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Jon Dadi Bodvarsson is feeling back to his best – and now wants to prove it for club and country.
The Wanderers striker grabbed two goals before the international break in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy at Stockport County to put himself in contention for a starting spot against Exeter City this weekend.
Bodvarsson is yet to start for the Whites in League One this season but with his fitness improving day by day and the lure of Iceland’s Euro 2024 play-off also in the distance, he is relishing the chance to show he is over the ankle injury which cost him so dearly last term.
“I am feeling really good now, I don’t feel far off it at all,” he told The Bolton News.
“The injury last season was a blow. It took time to get the ankle right, be more confident on it because it was a bad injury. But now I feel like I am not over-thinking the situation now, I feel good on the pitch and that is the main thing.
“It has been a hard time and, of course, you want to get going right away and play every minute you possibly can. I know that hasn’t been possible and the team has been playing really well, too, so whenever that opportunity comes to me then I have to be ready to take it.”
Bodvarsson has not featured for Iceland since March 2022 but holds 64 caps for his country and played for them at both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
A draw will be made today to determine Iceland’s potential path to next summer’s tournament in Germany, which could include Josh Sheehan’s Wales.
Norwegian Age Hareide took the team on in April but has not been able to call on Bodvarsson, who damaged ankle ligaments in January and missed the last four months of the campaign.
The 31-year-old feels he still has plenty to give at international level but knows he will have to be playing regularly in a successful Bolton side to stand any chance of a return to the fold.
“I haven’t spoken to them much, but I have a feeling that the new manager will want everyone to play a certain amount of minutes,” he said.
“I have not had the call yet, but I am certain it will happen at some point in time.
“I would love to come back and play for the national team, definitely. It is an exciting time with a new generation of players in Iceland right now.
“Maybe they will need the more experience players to help the younger ones and hopefully get the country to a major tournament again.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers will find out their next opponent in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy tomorrow evening, with the draw for the second round being held live on Sky Sports News at 6.30pm.
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