FORMER Newport County midfielder Lee Evans admits he is still pinching himself to be playing alongside the world’s most expensive player.

The Exiles academy graduate has become the first player since the club reformed in 1989 to go from the Newport first team to the Wales national squad, in Evans’ case via a January 2013 switch to then League One side, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Newport born youngster, told by Bristol Rovers as a 15-year old that he wouldn’t make it as a professional, travels to Belgium with Chris Coleman’s men having spent a week alongside Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and of course, Real Madrid’s £86 million man Gareth Bale.

And having taken the long route to stardom with the Exiles, Evans admits he’s trying to absorb all the tips he can from one of the best in the world.

“I’ve come from non-league and didn’t think this would happen for me, I’m just watching the likes of Bale and Ramsey and trying to learn and broaden all my knowledge,” he said.

“I’m keeping my head down and trying to enjoy it, just watching Bale train is inspiring and there aren’t many in the world better, I am trying to pick up all I can from him.

“I am just a guy from Newport who was told he wouldn’t make it in the game and without Newport County, I wouldn’t have.

“I owe so much to the club and in particular Glyn Jones and especially Justin Edinburgh.”

And the Argus can reveal that Evans, who was announced in the last Wales squad only to withdraw with a hamstring strain, almost suffered the same heartache all over again.

“I injured my wrist before the squad was announced in the Birmingham game, I had to sweat on it and I only found out two days before the squad joined up that I didn’t need surgery on it.

“It was a huge relief, last time was very painful, playing for Wales is a childhood dream and the chance got taken away and I did think, ‘please don’t let this happen again.’

“But thankfully my chance has come, and it’s an obvious thing to say, but it honestly is a dream come true for me.”