Gunter's gratitude to 'exciting young coach' Bellamy

Chris Gunter says former international team-mate and current Wales boss Craig Bellamy is one of football's "most exciting young coaches".

Gunter, who won 109 caps for Wales, is in charge of the nation's under-19s for this summer's Uefa Men's Under-19 Championship finals in north Wales.

The former Spurs defender said that Bellamy takes a big interest in Wales' age grade teams and has also been a big help to him on his first steps into coaching.

"He's so generous with his time and speak quite a lot," Gunter said of Bellamy.

"I'm really happy that we speak quite often and I get to learn from, in my opinion, one of the most exciting young coaches coming through our game.

"Over the last couple of years I've learned an awful lot from him and he loves everything to do with Welsh young football.

"His knowledge and interest of all of these younger players - he knows every one of them – and asks all the time about them, how they're doing and what's to come.

"He's a great signboard for anything I want to put against him and get his view."

Gunter's predecessor Craig Knight, now professional development phase lead coach at Wrexham, had also spoken of Bellamy's hands-on involvement with the younger teams.

And Gunter, who also played for Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest and Reading, expects Bellamy to be present for Wales' games at the finals later this month.

"He actually does watch all of our games back anyway - they normally run at the same time," Gunter said.

"But normally by a Tuesday or Wednesday after a camp, he's looked back over the games and wants to know about different things and younger players

"My role is to try and give him the best players we have from the younger age group coming through.

"Wales over a number of years have been really aggressive in how we try and promote younger players.

"These young boys are really fortunate at the moment with somebody like Craig in charge who really wants to embrace that.

"He's shown over the last 12 to 18 months that if you're good enough, you're old enough."

Cardiff City defenders Dylan Lawlor and Ronan Kpakio are two players who have stepped up from the under-19s into Bellamy's senior squad during the past year.

Oliver Bostock and Jayden Lienou were called into the senior squad for the recent friendlies against Ghana and Romania and are in Gunter's squad for the upcoming tournament.

"They missed our trip to Spain last week because they were with the senior team," Gunter said of West Brom's Bostock and Lienou of Leeds United.

"I fully expect them to come back in and be a lot better for the experience

"Our role is to try and get players into the senior team as quickly as possible so, for those two to do it was a really pleasing one.

"And they both had really good seasons at their club.

"It's proof that if you are doing well and you've got the necessary tools and attributes that Craig and the senior team want then the opportunities will be there for you."