Since leaving his boyhood club Birmingham, James admits it has been a rollercoaster of a season.
“I went there [Rennes] with a lot of hope of playing and I never did,” he said.
“It was a new environment – something massive for me and my family – and I had to keep my head down and keep working.
“A new coach came in and I played every game. I’ve got used to the place and now I feel at home.
“When I do come here [to Wales] it’s obviously a lot easier when I am playing football in France.”
“I’ve been in the gym a lot in France. They are very athletic and I’ve looked to bring that into my game, because I need to be able to cope over there.
Wales had been on course for a 0-0 draw in Skopje until an uncharacteristic Joe Allen mistake set up Bojan Miovski to give North Macedonia a 91st-minute lead.
But in a dramatic finale, Wales went up the other end and David Brooks scored in the 96th minute to ensure they left with a point.
“The character of the boys when the goal went in was unbelievable,” said James.
“A lot of teams would have been done, but we knew we had time to go up the other end and find the back of the net.”
Wales return to World Cup qualifying action at home to Liechtenstein on 6 June and away to group favourites Belgium three days later.
