Jones upset by sacking

Matthew Jones has taken his Wales chance

Wales v Belarus at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday 6 October, live on BBC2 Wales, kick-off 1430 BST.

Also live commentary on BBC Radio Wales - listen online

Young Welsh star Matthew Jones believes that axed club boss Peter Taylor will prove that he is a great manager.

The midfielder, brought to crisis club Leicester by Taylor from Leeds for £3.25m last December, admits he has been stunned by the departure of his mentor from Filbert Street.

Jones, in Cardiff preparing for Wales' World Cup clash with Belarus on Saturday, admitted: "I was pretty emotional when I heard what had happened.

"I can't get away from it even though I am away with Wales.

"Everybody keeps talking about it and I haven't been able to get back to the club since it happened, so I'm still pretty upset."

However, Jones is convinced Taylor will rise again from the ashes of his traumatic time in charge of Leicester.

"I hope Peter Taylor goes from here to prove people wrong but, not only that, to prove to himself that he is a great manager. And I think he is determined to do it.

Peter Taylor's sacking has disturbed Jones

"Peter is a good man and he will do well wherever he goes

"But for the club now, as players, we must stick together as a team and turn things round.

Jones added: "It was expected by many people but I feel it has been a bit harsh on him.

"But he has a lot of qualities and he is going to prove to people that he can be successful."

Jones, 21, stands to win his 11th cap against Belarus at the Millennium Stadium, but claims the uproar at Leicester has had a big effect on him.

"It's tough for me because Peter brought me to the club. We wanted him to turn things round, so this has been a shock to me and I'm pretty emotional about it.

"Recently I have been playing well, have got back into the team and my confidence is high. And in the last game Peter finally made the decision to play me instead of Dennis Wise.

"I felt I had finally proved myself to him and then a couple of days later he gets sacked and I know I have got to prove it all over again to a new man."

Take a look back at the highs and lows of Wales' World Cup qualifying campaign in What Mark? on BBC1 Wales, Saturday 6 October, 2310-0000 BST.