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Tom Lockyer admits this week has been a little on the hectic side.

The Bristol Rovers captain was a surprise name on the substitutes' bench in Wednesday's FA Cup replay with Barnet, which came just 24 hours after he made his first start for Wales away to Albania.

Lockyer came on for the final 10 minutes in the Gas' defeat on Wednesday, capping off a mad 1,292-mile dash to get to the game.

He said: "It was quite hectic obviously traveling to Albania - it was a bit further than I thought it was, I didn't quite know where it was.

"That was a good experience, it was nice to get my first start, then straight back to Rovers after it.

"The Wales manager did the team the day before and I was sat in the meeting room, nudging my mates, saying that's me, then I got straight on the phone to my old man and he booked his flight straight out there, to be fair to him.

"It was a friendly so I wasn't too excited but, at the end of the day, it was my first start for Wales, so I was obviously delighted and just tried to put a good impression in."

It was not the only time Lockyer had been at the Mem during his time on international duty as he attended the Gas' defeat to Scunthorpe last weekend.

He said: "With the game last Saturday, we had the afternoon off so I came over with a couple of Wales boys who wanted to see the match, one of them was at Scunthorpe, so we came over for that.

"Straight after Albania, I went straight to the hotel, got some kit, then flew straight back, landed in Cardiff, then straight to Bristol, a bit more sleep then back to the Mem to be involved with the boys.

"I just wanted to be there, be just another voice in the changing rooms, and then I got on the bench if I was needed to come on.

"We ended up changing shape so I got a few minutes, but the main thing was to come back and be around the lads and try and get my support that way."

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Lockyer says it is still surreal to consider himself part of the Wales set-up, but the Gas defender is hungry for more after his first start.

He said: "It's surreal sometimes when I think about it.

"It's good that I keep getting called up and selected, so I must be doing something right every time I go away - I was delighted to get my first start as it's been a long time since my debut, I think over a year now, so I had to wait for that.

"Now I've got that, I just want more, because it's made me hungrier for it because I can do this."

Lockyer says it was a joint decision between himself and Rovers boss Darrell Clarke as to whether he played on Wednesday or not, and that he was keen to make the game whatever in order to support his teammates.

"We talked throughout the week, he always checks in on me when I'm away, making sure I'm not injured and whatnot.

"He just asked my thoughts on Wednesday and I said if I didn't play in Albania, I'll be fresh and ready, it turned out I started, but I said I'd come down and prepare right, and if you need me, you need me.

"If not, I'd be another voice in the changing room for the lads."