Etien Velikonja urged to fire Bluebirds to FA Cup glory

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has challenged Slovenian striker Etien Velikonja to fire himself into the first-team with some FA Cup heroics on Saturday.

The man from Maribor has hardly featured in Mackay’s plans this season after his £1m move from Slovenia’s Prva League last summer.

But despite fans questioning why the man who fired 20 goals in his 48 appearances for his former club has remained largely untried in Cardiff, Mackay has stuck to his guns, maintaining that the Gorica product is not yet ready for the demands of Championship football.

But after his frontline strikers Heidar Helguson, Rudy Gestede and Joe Mason all featured in a demanding spell of four festive games in 11 days, the Scot is now ready to turn to the 5ft 10in frontman in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Macclesfield Town, insisting: “Etien has to take his chance.

“It has all been about nurturing him so far this season.

“The Championship is such a different league to the Slovenian League and he has been working hard on his physical attributes.

“But he will have his chance to prove himself at Macclesfield.”

Mackay describes the 24-year-old as a goalscorer, who he expects to take his chances when the ball gets delivered into the 18 yard box, saying: “Etien likes to play off the shoulder of a target man and score goals.

“It has been frustrating so far for him this season but he knows that we have a development plan in place for him.

“He is a lovely lad who works very hard.”

Velikonja is expected to be one of the 11 to run-out at Moss Rose, which will be a largely inexperienced outfit as the 40-year-old plans to give some of his stars a much needed break before next week’s Championship clash with Ipswich Town.

Click here: Meet Cardiff City's rookie FA Cup squad

Mackay said: “We will field a couple of experienced boys but in the main it will be guys who haven’t had a lot of first team football.

“It is nice to be able to give them a break because I simply didn’t have that option last season.

“The same group had to play every week and we ended up flogging them to death.

“Right now, I don’t want people breaking down on me so I will freshen things up a bit.

“But believe me, we want to win at Macclesfield and progress in the FA Cup.

“I love the competition and I am confident we can switch our focus back to the Championship next week.”

Just need to be patient and trust Malky's judgement as with Kim.

Hope he takes his chance, gives a great performance and gets a couple of goals. I imagine he'll be more than up for this with the lack of chances he's had. Good luck Eti!

I think he will score a hatrick

I hope he does well! It will be interesting to see him play

I think he will get a couple. I've watched him twice in the development squad matches and he knows where the net is. I get the impression that MM wants a bit more physicality from him and I hope he does well tomorrow.

I think he will get a couple. I've watched him twice in the development squad matches and he knows where the net is. I get the impression that MM wants a bit more physicality from him and I hope he does well tomorrow.

I am looking forward to see him play tomorrow!

Really hope he scores a couple

He needs to take his chance now and break through this season he's 24 years old I thought he was younger and that, he's not a kid,

get him on the protein shakes and a lean weight lifters diet 3 weight sessions a week hel be fine. (if hes any good)
look at messi - tiny

Some great things said by MM!

Would love to see him take his chance!

Would love to see him take his chance!

Agree

I've just placed £10 on Etien to score at anytime and it returns £32 with Ladbrookes

Might put a bet on for him to score a hattrick

11/2 first scorer...£10 for me