“I’m a winner, I’m not a good loser. You can see when I’m angry and upset on the pitch. Those things I had to change.

“I needed to be a better team-mate. It’s not always about ‘me, me, me’. Sometimes, I can use the team to make me look better and the team can use me to be better too.

“A lot of harsh realities were spoken, a lot of straight talking from people around me – my family, friends, my agent, other coaches that I’ve worked with.

“I took it on board, and the move to France came at the right time for me to go away, put my head down, focus on football, focus on being a better person and getting the Wales call-up, it felt like it was working.

“I’m there (at Nantes) to improve as a player. It is a different environment, different tests which will make me a better player, so I can bring that to Wales.”

Thomas also believes playing in the position in which Bellamy starred is a benefit.

“Him showing faith in me was amazing for me and my family, and I just wanted to show him how good I am on the ball,” added Thomas.

“He is someone who played in the position I play in, and it is good to learn from him. He pulls me to one side to give me some advice.

“I’ve taken it on board, and he told me to just be free when I got the ball, and that’s what I did.

“We are going to be a threat at international level. The manager and the coaching staff, that is what they are going to make us do.

“We are a country coming under the radar and a lot of countries are going to be wary of us.

“The manager knows what he is doing. He has been around people like Vincent Kompany and played under top managers. It was the first game of a new era.”