GARETH Taylor joined up with the Wales squad today ahead of next week's clash with Italy and admitted 'It was great to sign off with a goal'.

"It gives you that extra confidence and is something positive to go away from your club with," said Taylor.

The Burnley striker produced arguably his best display of the season at Hillsborough last weekend, scoring the crucial opening goal, and now he is looking forward to working with Welsh boss Mark Hughes again.

He believes working with him has helped him to develop his game and he said: "When he was a player we roomed together a couple of times and all of the players have a lot of respect for him.

"He was a top player for a long time and he knows what he wants. As a striker he had a bit of everything. He got stuck in but it was not just that, his all round technique was excellent.

"A few years ago Wales had a lot of good strikers like Hughes, Ian Rush, Dean Saunders and Giggsy coming through."

Hughes had played with Taylor when he started his international career six years ago and it was he who recalled him last season after a three-year absence from the national side.

The Clarets star believes it is not just his own game that has benefited from the input of Hughes, he credits him with turning around the fortunes of what had been an ailing football nation.

"We have picked up some good results against some good opposition and that has helped to give us a lot of confidence," he explained. "There is a great team spirit in the squad.

"We have always been a country that has had good players and now we are starting to prove ourselves. Since I was first involved this is the best run and I think Sparky has got it spot on.

"Next week's match with Italy is a huge game and I imagine there will be a full house at the Millennium Stadium. It is just great to be involved."

For once his absence on international duty has not hit him too hard as he would have been suspended from the weekend game with Walsall having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Wimbledon two weeks earlier.

"At least I get my suspension out of the way and I can start afresh," he explained. "But I always think it is inevitable that you will get booked as a big striker.

"The important thing is not to get any silly ones."

Burnley will have to do without his services at the weekend and Taylor is regretting the fact he will not have another chance to play alongside fellow strikers Ian Moore and Robbie Blake after the success against the Owls.

"The gaffer called it right when he said that we all offer something a bit different," he said.

"It was hard work because we would all do our bit tracking back but that is what the gaffer wanted. As soon as they got the ball it was our job to stop their full backs getting out.

"It was a good professional performance because I think Wednesday are in a false position."

Taylor was also full of praise for Graham Branch who set up his goal, as he said: "He did brilliantly for my goal, and for Mooro's, and I'm pleased for him. He has a lot of ability but everyone did their bit."

The 29-year does not know if he will get the chance to do his bit for country as well as club next week but if Hughes does want a big striker to ruffle some Italian feathers, Taylor is certainly ready.