' Hudson already working hard for new season '

If you think Cardiff City skipper Mark Hudson is currently lying on some exotic beach somewhere reflecting on a job well done, then you would be mistaken.


The man who helped lead the Bluebirds to their momentous season is, in fact, back where those glories were really forged – on the training pitch.

Hudson is not afraid of hard work, but he’s no glutton for punishment either.

His current regime is all about working his way back from the injury which saw him miss the final 10 games of Cardiff’s Championship-winning campaign.

After getting injured at Wolves in March, the centre-half went on to have surgery on his ankle ligaments, followed by a hip operation which had been scheduled for the end of the campaign anyway, but which was moved forward.
He might not have actually been on the pitch, but Hudson, still proved a big presence as Malky Mackay’s side swept into the Premier League and topped the Championship.
The skipper lifted the famous old trophy after his side’s final home game against Bolton.
But 31-year-old Hudson knows already that the biggest challenges still lie ahead. He is about to enter his fifth season in the Welsh capital and that is going to be in the Premier League.
He admits captaining the Bluebirds in the top-flight will be the highlight of a career that has seen seven appearances in the top-flight for Crystal Palace back in the 2004-05 season.
But Hudson knows this time things are going to be very different.
“Captaining Cardiff in the Premier League is going to make me very proud and will be the highlight of my career so far,” said Hudson.
“It is the greatest league in the world and where you want to be playing your football. It has always been my ambition to make it there and finally I am going to get the chance.
“It was hard at the end of the season not to be able to get out on the pitch because that is where you want to be, but the lads did a great job.
“My aim now is to get myself back to some kind of fitness so I can come back for preseason on the same level to everyone else after the injury.
“I think getting a good preseason under your belt is very important and I want to hit the ground running when we come back.
“I’m still learning, but I belive a centre-half comes into their prime when they are about 30 or 31 and that is the age I am now.
“But when it comes to next season I’m not taking anything for granted. I know there is going to be intense competition for places in the side.
“But to be fair that’s exactly what it was like last season. I’m like everybody else, I’ll be coming back and working hard and looking to impress the manager.”
It would seem though that Mackay is already sold when it comes to the charms of his skipper anyway.
The Bluebirds’ boss is a great admirer of his ‘first lieutenant’ and the feeling is mutual.
Mackay and Hudson are seemingly cut from the same cloth. The manager, who is only a decade older than his skipper, was also a no-nonsense centre-half in his playing days and perhaps also not overburdened with silky skills.
Both men put great store in hard work, total effort and incredible fitness levels. Both are found of the words ‘respect’ and ‘trust.’
Indeed when talking to Hudson, if you mention something that Mackay might have recently said, the skipper is apt to respond with the words: “Yes, that’s right...’
It isn’t sycophancy, it is a bond between the two men that was at the core of Cardiff’s historic campaign.
Mackay recently suggested that, despite what many experts might think, his current squad will require mere ‘tweaking’ to hold its own in the top-flight.
Hudson is in agreement naturally and, as so often, is keen to expand on his manager’s theme.
“I think the gaffer’s right on that. I don’t think there have to be massive changes,” said Hudson.
“Of course you are going to have a few players come in, but I see it rather like the way we have built over the last two seasons. I don’t think drastic measures are called for.
“This squad performed incredibly well last season and I don’t think you need to mess with that too much.
“You’ve got a squad here packed with talented players who are all prepared to work very hard and, especially, to work very hard for each other.
“I think you’ve seen before that going up a division it is good to go into it with momentum and we have certainly have got that after last season.”
Of course all work and no play can make for dull fare and, after his extra training regime, Hudson will have time to fit in a holiday, two in fact, one with a group of friends before flying off to Ibiza with his family.
But there is one date the Cardiff skipper is very much looking forward to upon his return and that is the release of the Premier League fixtures on June 19.
Now we may be talking about the man who lifted the Championship trophy and went on an open-top bus ride to celebrate promotion before thousands of ecstatic fans, but Hudson admits the scale of his and his teammates’ achievements is yet to actually sink in.
“There was happiness and the relief of achieving the promotion and the title and then all the celebrations,” added Hudson.
“But to be honest the whole thing has still not really sunk in. It’s as if I’m preparing for the next season, bur not quite sure what that season is going to be about.
“I almost think when the fixtures come out it is going to make it more real for me.
“When I see Cardiff City’s name down on that list along-side the Premier League teams in the fixture list it is going make it hit home a lot more.
“It is a very exciting time for the club?

Gavin, Hudson can be a valuable member of our squad next season.

i think most people would have been in agreement back in 2010, if we had got promoted that year, that Hudson wouldnt have been good enough to make the step up.

Now while there are still some reservations regarding his pace, he has improved vastly under Malky and fully deserves a good shot at premier league football!

Hope he is fit and raring to go come August 17th

never had pace, reads the game well, has improved year on year with his positioning, scores some vital goals and actually has a decent pass.

Also has an excellent singing voice when presented with a microphone...

Got injured in February not March but did come back for one game in March.

This is a true professional right there.

Hard not to love Mark Hudson.

He is correct on the sinking in,when the fixtures come out it will for me.

He also traveled with the squad to away games and was in the changing room for home games which shows he is true captain.

I was one of the hudson haters when he first arrived. Got to say he is an awesome captain who has totally won me over since. I think he can cut it and if he can thats great as his presence is good for the whole team

never had pace, reads the game well, has improved year on year with his positioning, scores some vital goals and actually has a decent pass.

Also has an excellent singing voice when presented with a microphone...

to slow. may get turned over a few times in the prem. think we need cover for him?