NICKY Adams has urged his countryman and former Bury team-mate Craig Jones not to give up on playing for Wales.

Jones capped a second start of the season for the Shakers at Walsall on Saturday with the only goal of the game, helping to knock the home side off the League One top spot.

The 28-year-old winger, who has also proved an able defender and wing-back during his 88 games for Bury, admitted only last season that he still harboured international aspirations.

And Adams, who left Gigg Lane for Northampton in the summer, believes he can achieve his ambitions if he continues to excel for the Shakers.

“You never say never. Wales are really hot right now so you wouldn’t expect them to mess about with the squad before the Euros. They’ll probably go with what they have got,” said Adams.

“But after the tournament there are bound to be changes.

“The one thing you know playing for Wales is that they will recruit players from outside the Premier League. You don’t have to be playing for Manchester United.

“Joner is a very good player and I enjoyed playing alongside him.

“If he keeps going and gets a regular start at Bury then I see no reason why he can’t push himself forward.

“He’s still a good age. And if I haven’t given up on getting a senior call-up then he certainly shouldn’t.”

Adams made five appearances for Wales Under-21s in 2007 and 2008 during his first spell with Bury but had to pull out of the senior squad due to injury following his only call-up, while playing at Leicester.

Jones was overlooked by his country after starting his career in the League of Wales, but did make nine appearances for the Wales semi-pro side at senior and U23 level.

But the Bury midfielder admitted at the start of last season he hoped to catch the eye of Chris Coleman’s scouts.

“That’s where I want to get to (the national side),” he said.

“I need to keep improving and hopefully get a promotion with this team then I think they will definitely start to look.”

Jones and his team-mates secured a step up to the third tier on the final day of last season and played an important role in their first victory of the current campaign on Saturday.

Ironically, it came during international week, when the Wales coaching set-up were engaged in trying to secure their place at Euro 2016.

But after recovering from a groin injury in pre-season, Jones’ bustling 90-minute display – starting on the wing before reverting to full-back in the second half – in his fourth appearance of the season certainly caught the eye of Bury boss David Flitcroft.

“I didn’t think he would have had 90 minutes in him, so when Joe Riley came off injured, to be able to have versatility and put him back in there (at full-back) was brilliant.

“The boy (left winger Rico) Henry, who got man-of-the-match for Walsall, is a fantastic player, but I think Joner nullified his threat.”

Bury will host League Two Morecambe in the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday, October 6, and have drawn either Manchester United or Oldham in the semi-finals of the Manchester Senior Cup.