MATTHEW Jones believes Mike Ruddock has shown more faith by signing him for Worcester Warriors than he did when he handed the fly-half his Wales cap.

When the Sixways director of rugby was in charge of the Welsh national team, he gave Jones his solitary international cap on the 2005 tour of North America.

The 24-year-old was then an up-and-coming Ospreys stand-off but, since, he has suffered a terrible knee injury that sidelined him for more than a year.

Having been overtaken by James Hook at the Liberty Stadium, Jones, now fully recovered, was forced to resurrect his career in the National Leagues with stints at London Welsh and Moseley.

However, he has been plucked from relative obscurity as Ruddock decided Jones was the man to fill the considerably large — not to mention accurate — boots vacated by Shane Drahm in the intense spotlight of the Guinness Premiership.

Bridgend-born Jones said: “Mike showed a lot of faith in me when he picked me for the full Wales team, but I think he has shown even more faith in me now by signing me for the Warriors.

“It gave me a confidence boost too as I realised I must have done something right while I was playing under him before. I hadn’t spoken to him for a year or two since my cap and I’d like to think I im-pressed him.

“He’s been monitoring me since my inury and there is a lot of thanks that I have to send out to him and Clive Griffiths, Warriors head coach, who was also part of the tour when I was capped. I want to repay them, prove that they’ve made a good signing and make them happy to make me first choice here.”

Although Jones insists his knee problems are now behind him, he is fully aware of the step up in class he will have to make to become a Premiership match-winner for the Warriors.

He added: “Fitness has not been an issue for me for a year now. Basically, at the Os-preys, James Hook came al-ong, was in immense form and was the new kid on the block when I injured my knee.

“He had the opportunity and took it with both hands — I don’t blame the coaches there for not giving me the chances because James was playing well. I had to accept that, keep training and stay positive.

“Hopefully now that I’ve got an opportunity with Worcester I can take it and prove to everyone they’ve made a good signing.

“Shane Drahm was on fire for Worcester after Christmas and everything he touched turned to gold, so I know there are big expectations on me.

“Hopefully, what I can bring to the team is a good mixture of an all-round game — my kicking, defending and attacking. I am confident I can produce the goods in all of these areas and get the fans on my side.

“I spoke to Mike and he said he was bringing me to the club as a kicker and that is what I regard as one of the strongest areas of my game — out of hand and for goal.

“As a 10, you sometimes win matches and sometimes lose them, but I enjoy the pressure that goes with that. It makes you want to do well.”