Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:08 pm
Two Cardiff City players return from injury to represent their countries ahead of Friday night’s clash with Burton Albion
By Jamie Kemble
Monday 26th March 2018
Midfielder Aron Gunnarsson and on loan forward Jamie Ward have returned to action over the international break.
Aron Gunnarsson has been sidelined for around four months with an ankle injury but he has returned to the playing surface.
The Iceland captain played 46 minutes in his country’s friendly defeat to Mexico in California and he’s on his way back to South Wales ahead Cardiff City’s clash with Burton Albion on Friday.
Gunnarsson hasn’t played for the Bluebirds since November, requiring surgery on a reoccurring ankle problem.
However, he’s set to return to club action this weekend against Championship strugglers Burton Albion.
And the same can be said for forward Jamie Ward. The 31-year-old on loan from Nottingham Forest has been out since February with a groin injury, but he has now returned to action.
He lasted just 13 minutes on his Bluebirds’ debut last month before limping off, but his spell on the sidelines ended on Saturday.
Ward played 62 minutes in Northern Ireland’s impressive 2-1 win over South Korean, setting up Ireland’s equaliser with his cross forcing an own goal after 20 minutes.
The Nottingham Forest loanee is also in contention to return to the squad against Burton Albion on Friday.
The internationals are joined but a number of team-mates returning from injury, including Joe Ralls and Jazz Richards.
The Bluebirds have just nine games remaining and as they close in on that automatic promotion spot, they will need as many bodies as they can get.
Especially with the busy run of fixtures over Easter which sees them play three games in seven days, starting on Friday.