Ian Evatt said Josh Sheehan was 'frustrated' while away with Wales as he watched Bolton Wanderers in action earlier this week against Burton Albion and not being about to help out his club team mates.
The midfielder has missed the past two games for Bolton in the Papa John's Trophy against Port Vale and in League One against Burton after being called up to Robert Page's squad.
He was initially on a standby list, but later got the call after injuries to other members of the squad led to the likes of Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey withdrawing.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt on Ipswich Town, squad list decisions and referee feedback
Sheehan came off the bench in an international friendly against Finland, was an unused substitute in the Wordl Cup qualifier victory over Belarus, but was not in the squad for the goalless draw against Estonia.
Sheehan has now returned to Wanderers and comes back into contention for the trip to Ipswich Town tomorrow.
Evatt has admitted the midfielder was frustrated to be watching the performance Wanderers put in against the Brewers on Sky Sports, but that his international team mates were complimentary about how Bolton played.
The Bolton boss has spoken previously about how he believes Sheehan ought to have been in the Wales squad from the start, and has called on the midfielder to back himself to get into that side more regularly.
Evatt said: “Josh has got to back himself to get into that team. We certainly back him.
“I spoke to Josh today and he was frustrated because he saw how good we were while he was sat having his tea with the Wales squad.
"And they were complementing us about the way we play and the way we do things – and that’s great.
“Having him back is great and you certainly shouldn’t punish a player for being an international player, so he will come back into the reckoning for Saturday.”
