Southampton's new boss Nathan Jones has done a u-turn on his opinion of the winter World Cup.

Jones, who took over at the Saints from Ralph Hasenhuttl shortly before the World Cup break started, has a chance to work with his squad for a month before their next match.

Asked about his opinion on the situation, Jones admits that getting the job has caused him to completely change his mind on the 2022 World Cup schedule.

“The ironic thing was a week or two ago, I was lambasting the World Cup," the 49-year-old stated, per the Daily Echo.

“I was saying it piles massive pressure on Championship clubs for the fixture schedule and, for everything, it was unfair on players; from what I label some people at FIFA now, they are absolutely geniuses!

“I'm so, so happy that someone has put a World Cup in Qatar in November. It gives me an opportunity to work with them, any opportunity I get to work without just having to go to games."