John Toshack kept selecting teenage star Chris Gunter when he could not even get into Cardiff's first team and now he is reaping the benefits.Gunter, just 18, produced an outstanding display against the Republic of Ireland and Germany in November which may well have embarrassed Cardiff boss Dave Jones into relenting and including the youngster in his Championship side.

Since then a £2million move to Spurs has seen Gunter blossom in the top flight, making his Premier League debut as a substitute against former Wales captain Ryan Giggs in front of 75,000 at Old Trafford.

Toshack sees the full-back as one of the keys to Wales' future and expects him to play an integral part in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Gunter will win his fourth cap at Wrexham on Wednesday in a friendly against Norway.

"He was outstanding in the previous two internationals," said Toshack.

"To play as well as he did in Germany was remarkable. I don't like boosting young players too much because it can go to their heads but he is a sensible lad and has adapted to this level very well.

"Going to Spurs is a good move for him and he can now afford to be a bit patient.

"Spurs have signed a few full-backs recently and he may find himself out of the side but between now and October when the important internationals come around he must be aware he must force his way into the Spurs side."

Toshack is relishing the prospect of seeing two Welshmen doubling up for Spurs with another teenager Gareth Bale also in the squad, although an ankle problem could keep him out for the next few months.

"When Wales qualified for the World Cup finals in 1958 there was Terry Medwin and Cliff Jones in their side, two great Welshman," he added.

"Maybe we will see Gunter and Bale in Spurs' team in the future and take us to the World Cup in South Africa. I can always hope."

Gunter also sees a bright future, saying: "I really enjoyed the last couple of Wales games and then the move to Spurs happened and it has been a bit of a whirl since then.

"Those Wales games probably got me back into Cardiff's side - I'd been in the reserves for a while.

"I enjoyed my time at Cardiff but I feel everyone felt it was time for me to change and go somewhere else.

"It has been easy to settle in I have been involved in virtually every game either on the bench or playing.

"My first game was in the Carling Cup at Reading and we kept a clean sheet, which obviously pleased me.

"Then I came on at Old Trafford against Manchester United as a substitute and that was a hell of an experience.

"I found myself playing against Ryan Giggs, which was tremendous. I had been in the last Wales squad that Ryan was involved with before he retired, and it was an honour to end up playing against him.

"I felt I did okay against him, and from my point of view to be thrown into something like that showed that Spurs do have a lot of faith in me.

"Ryan is a living legend as far as I am concerned and I will never forget that chance to play in my first Premier League game against him."

And Gunter is confident he can continue to make an impact at White Hart Lane.

"I know they have signed a couple more full-backs in the last few weeks but when I went there I did not expect to be going straight into the side," he said.

"I have to keep working hard and when I do get the opportunity I will take it.

"In some ways it was the same position I found myself in at Cardiff a couple of months ago. I was in the reserves there and not getting a first-team game.

"That shows that in football you never know what is around the corner and I suppose it is more acceptable to be

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