MacDonald fully focused on life back with Latics

MacDonald was back at Euxton on Monday for training with his club colleagues, after Wales’ attempts to take a huge step towards the 2018 World Cup were thwarted by a late Serbia leveller in Cardiff.

With no international game now until March, MacDonald says it’s a case of piling all his attentions into helping Latics – under new boss Warren Joyce – climb out of the Championship drop zone.

“It’s a cliche, but you’ve just got to take each game as it comes – that’s how I work anyway,” he told the Evening Post.

“The Serbia game’s gone now, we can’t do anything to change it, and it’s got to be 100 per cent concentration on Wigan and the next game here.”

It could have been so different for MacDonald and Wales had Gareth Bale – who had earlier opened the scoring – not hit the post seconds before the Serbians’ late equaliser.

“We’re obviously disappointed to concede with five minutes to go, but it’s not over and done with,” added MacDonald.

“We’ve got more than enough points still to play for, and the lads can kick on with plenty of confidence after that performance.”

Will Grigg is the only remaining Latics player away on international duty.

After his second-half cameo against Azerbaijan at the weekend, Grigg is hoping to again feature for Northern Ireland in Tuesday night’s friendly against Croatia.

Grigg has been joined in the squad by ex-Latics goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

The 39-year-old has been drafted in as cover following an injury to first-choice Michael McGovern.