JOE MASON LIKELY TO START AGAINST BLACKPOOL

NICKY MAYNARD, Cardiff City’s £2.75m signing from West Ham United, goes into hospital today for an operation on his knee ligament damage.

The striker was injured during City’s 2-0 Championship win at Millwall and manager Malky Mackay says: “The medical backing Nicky has is second to none.

“We are delighted he is being looked after in this area because there are world specialists available to help him.

“Nicky will be given all the care and attention he needs and will back with us in a few months. He will return, whenever that is, fit and strong.


“I want him to have a career which lasts another 10 to 15 years.”

While Maynard has his surgery at a hospital in the Cardiff area, Mackay must decide who will lead his City attack in this Saturday’s Championship home match against Blackpool.

Heidar Helguson had a lone role at centre-forward during the 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace, but Mackay may switch to 4-4-2 for the visit of Blackpool.

That could open the door for Joe Mason to make his first start of the league season.

Mason fired 12 goals in 2011-12 and has scored one goal in five appearances off the bench in the new campaign.

“Joe has huge potential, he’s a smashing lad and we have high hopes for him,” said Mackay.

“I have no doubts about Joe and he will be heavily involved this season.

“He was a surprise to many people when he first came to Cardiff in terms of how quickly he learned and progressed. He came on leaps and bounds.

“The second season for any player is never easy and for a striker it means opposing defenders know your strengths and weaknesses.

“Joe, along with Ben Turner, came through an hour for our development team against Charlton in midweek and both will be in our squad for Saturday’s match.

“There is competition for places in our attack, but Joe is right up there in the mix.”

Jordon Mutch, who missed City’s defeat at Palace with a foot injury, is back in training and could figure against the Tangerines.

“Jordon was with us yesterday, trains again this morning and tomorrow,” says Mackay.

“If all goes as we hope then he will be in the squad.

“That’s a tough match against a Blackpool team who the most fancied in our division – and they come to us off the back of a defeat which means they are even more dangerous.

“But we have made a good start to the season, the second best this club has made in 50-odd years.

“Our job is to do all we can to build on that in home matches against Blackpool this Saturday and Birmingham City next Tuesday.” French youngster Rudy Gestede is almost ready for a return to first team action.

The 6ft 4ins striker has yet to play this season after suffering a knee injury, but came through 45 minutes of the midweek development match.

Gestede will now play at Brentford in another development game next Monday afternoon and against Swansea City at Cardiff City Stadium on October 8 (7pm).

“Rudy needs more match minutes and isn’t quite ready to be in a first team squad,” added Mackay. “But he is making good progress and came through his first game back, against Charlton, really well. It won’t be long before he is challenging again.

“He will get another game next week and we’ll re-assess him after that. He should be back in our squad really soon.”



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“I want him to have a career which lasts another 10 to 15 years.”

And that why Malky will become a great manager, always thinking of a players in a holistic sense and their careers as a whole not just the next few games or seasons. He genuingly cares for players. Lovely to see.

Maynard to still be playing at 40.... Does Malkey know he's 25?

So where does the 2 million pound striker who I watched bang goals in for fun on YouTube last night fit into malkys plans?
Surely velikonja is worth a go?

So where does the 2 million pound striker who I watched bang goals in for fun on YouTube last night fit into malkys plans?
Surely velikonja is worth a go?

Mike, Ive been wondering the same as you?

So where does the 2 million pound striker who I watched bang goals in for fun on YouTube last night fit into malkys plans?
Surely velikonja is worth a go?

any player can look good on youtube

Mason is pure quality and should start from now on,hell score for fun with service from likes of bellers,whitts and nooney

Velikonja comes from an average team (top 3) in a poor standard of football. I've always kept an eye on European football as some of you may have seen in the gamblers den from some of the euro Acca's I like to do, and the Slovenia league is still pretty poor considering the progress his old team Maribor have made.

Although, Etien does show alot of potential he was still also used alot as an impact sub for his old club.

I think he will get his chance, but this league is one hell of a jump up to what he was used to playing in.

For me, Malky is doing the right thing with this lad, and we'll prob see more of him towards the end of the season and next.

I like Joey Mason but surely it's about time Eti Velikonja got a run out too

Personally I'd start them both with Heider starting on the bench.

Velikonja comes from an average team (top 3) in a poor standard of football. I've always kept an eye on European football as some of you may have seen in the gamblers den from some of the euro Acca's I like to do, and the Slovenia league is still pretty poor considering the progress his old team Maribor have made.

Although, Etien does show alot of potential he was still also used alot as an impact sub for his old club.

I think he will get his chance, but this league is one hell of a jump up to what he was used to playing in.

For me, Malky is doing the right thing with this lad, and we'll prob see more of him towards the end of the season and next.

Sounds like we paid too much for him.

Etien and Mason is the way forward.

Anyone with a footballing brain can see the lad velikonja us a natural goal scorer and also very similar to Maynard in the form of the runs he makes, the fact he's come from a lower standard of football don't wash with me! If we paid 2 mill for him to just come in and develop ready for 2 seasons down the line then that's just pointless and a waste of money ! Personally I think if you pay 2 mill for a player then he surely must be ready to step in and deliver ! If not then you gotta ask the question why did Malky pay so much for someone who's not gonna feature! After all the rebranding scheme was designed to make funds availible to Malky to enable us too push on for the premiership this season !

Anyone with a footballing brain can see the lad velikonja us a natural goal scorer and also very similar to Maynard in the form of the runs he makes, the fact he's come from a lower standard of football don't wash with me! If we paid 2 mill for him to just come in and develop ready for 2 seasons down the line then that's just pointless and a waste of money ! Personally I think if you pay 2 mill for a player then he surely must be ready to step in and deliver ! If not then you gotta ask the question why did Malky pay so much for someone who's not gonna feature! After all the rebranding scheme was designed to make funds availible to Malky to enable us too push on for the premiership this season !

Exactly. Helguson hasn't been a huge success, let's be honest, so time to give Mason & Velikonja a chance now.

Anyone with a footballing brain can see the lad velikonja us a natural goal scorer and also very similar to Maynard in the form of the runs he makes, the fact he's come from a lower standard of football don't wash with me! If we paid 2 mill for him to just come in and develop ready for 2 seasons down the line then that's just pointless and a waste of money ! Personally I think if you pay 2 mill for a player then he surely must be ready to step in and deliver ! If not then you gotta ask the question why did Malky pay so much for someone who's not gonna feature! After all the rebranding scheme was designed to make funds availible to Malky to enable us too push on for the premiership this season !

how can you make a valid judgement on etien? how often have you seen him play exactly?

Anyone with a footballing brain can see the lad velikonja us a natural goal scorer and also very similar to Maynard in the form of the runs he makes, the fact he's come from a lower standard of football don't wash with me! If we paid 2 mill for him to just come in and develop ready for 2 seasons down the line then that's just pointless and a waste of money ! Personally I think if you pay 2 mill for a player then he surely must be ready to step in and deliver ! If not then you gotta ask the question why did Malky pay so much for someone who's not gonna feature! After all the rebranding scheme was designed to make funds availible to Malky to enable us too push on for the premiership this season !

Plans?

how can you make a valid judgement on etien? how often have you seen him play exactly?

Look mate I'm not gonna get into a debate about it! All I'm saying is that if you pay 2 million for a striker then surely he's gotta be worth his salts?? If you can't agree on that then there's something wrong with you !

how much did borini cost ?


anyway didnt we pay 1m for him?


also, i agree, i want to see him given a chance, but people are going on like hes the next best thing, and are basing it on 45 minutes in a friendly (albiet, a good performance)

What I am certain of,is that we need as much pace up top to breach a Blackpool defence that was clearly vulnerable against Huddersfield. Huge shame we have lost Maynard as he would have been perfect.
I hope that Helgar is put on the bench and Mason and Bellers start.

I never expected KBK to feature straight away but there are plenty of months left in this season.

Etien Im suprised he haven't started.. Hes got a brilliant move to play in a great division and this guy looks like he wants to smash this league apart.. Expect him to get a good run out for Brum game.

Maynard to still be playing at 40.... Does Malkey know he's 25?

Kevin Phillips is 59 if he's a day and still banging the goals in!

mason got 12 goals last yr for us, and lets not forget a nice through ball and a great finish against liverpool.

he has to start and be given his chance. joe is talented, good with the ball and excellent at finding the space. if we can go 4-4-2 with him i think he will do a good job.

mason got 12 goals last yr for us, and lets not forget a nice through ball and a great finish against liverpool.

he has to start and be given his chance. joe is talented, good with the ball and excellent at finding the space. if we can go 4-4-2 with him i think he will do a good job.

Don't disagree with Joe playing but who should partner him. Not convinced that Helgar right man for job. Perhaps Bellers would be.

excellent

did well for you last season.about time he got a another chance

mason got 12 goals last yr for us, and lets not forget a nice through ball and a great finish against liverpool.

he has to start and be given his chance. joe is talented, good with the ball and excellent at finding the space. if we can go 4-4-2 with him i think he will do a good job.

to be honest , i quite like helguson. may do well with mason.

out of all the strikers we have, i think helguson would make the best partner for mason, i think his early season form coming of the bench warrents a place in the team, and he has been unlucky not to get a start so far.

Velikonja didn't cost £2m. More like £1m.

i was just thinking. i hope we dont play 1 up front.