EURO HEROICS MADE WEDDING DELAY EASIER TO TAKE, SAYS SAM

running down the stairs and I think he went over the barrier. The feeling when I was running over to that corner was brilliant.”

Vokes has begun the domestic season with Premier League new-boys Burnley in fine form, breaking his duck on the second weekend in a 2-0 win over Liverpool.

Having missed Burnley’s one-season foray into the English elite two years ago – because of a serious knee injury – that was another huge moment in the player’s career.

Vokes, with seven goals in 44 Wales appearances, said: “It’s nice to get a goal so early on. As a striker, the more you go without scoring, the more it can weigh on you. Now I can look to kick on.

“I felt fresh going back to Burnley this time. I missed our last Premier League season and I missed out on the start of the Euro campaign as well. I was gutted.

“But this time I can have a real good crack at it – that’s what I am looking forward to most.”

When asked which of the strikes, against Belgium and Liverpool, meant more to him, Vokes’ response was swift and emphatic.

He said: “It would have to be the Belgium one. It helped us beat the second best team in the world. That was unbelievable.”

After their exploits across the channel, Coleman’s Welsh wonders are favourites to win Group D – ahead of Austria, Serbia and the Republic of Ireland – and reach the World Cup finals in Russia.

It is a new position for them to be in but Vokes is adamant they can cope with the pressure and keep rising up the world ladder.

“We’re still on a buzz,” he said. “Tournament football is so different. Nothing can compare to it and that’s why we want to qualify next time. It’s a tough group but we’re going to attack it. It’s onwards and upwards.”