Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:19 pm
The manager will already be looking ahead to January
By Glen Williams
Monday 14th October 2019
Greg Cunningham's injury is, of course, devastating for him, but it might have just thrown up a huge problem for Neil Warnock in January.
The Republic of Ireland international has torn anterior cruciate ligament injury which will keep him sidelined for most, if not all of the season.
It means he might well have played his final game for Blackburn Rovers, after penning a year-long loan there this summer, but also, he might also have donned the City shirt for the final time.
The Bluebirds this season have managed with just one senior, recognised left back, Joe Bennett, with the comfort of having a recall clause in Cunningham's loan contract.
But, by his own lofty standards, Bennett is yet to scale the heights he reached in last year's Premier League campaign and the wear and tear of having to play every game in this often brutal division will doubtless take its toll at some point.
It is why Warnock was so keen to put the early-release clause into Cunningham's deal up at Ewood Park, bringing him back at Christmas was a very plausible option for him to bolster his squad for the business end of the season.
Behind Bennett there is only Ciaron Brown, a centre-back by trade who has just one senior appearance to his name, the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Luton Town earlier this season, and former Manchester United academy product Tom Sang, who has also been playing for Andy Legg's under-23s this season.
With Cunningham's contract expiring at the end of the season, it stands to reason that something has to give at left-back.
Cunningham in action for Blackburn Rovers (Image: Rachel Holborn - BRFC/Getty Images)
And it looks like there are two options.
Firstly, Warnock could offer the player a new deal, but would likely have to bring a player in on loan until the end of the season to provide cover for Bennett.
It is unlikely that in the event Bennett picks up an injury, touch wood, Warnock will revert to a back three of Sean Morrison, Aden Flint and Sol Bamba. The manager would much rather stick to his tried and tested formation which has brought him so much success in the Welsh capital.
Secondly, then, Warnock could dip into the transfer market in January and make a more permanent signing in the knowledge that Cunningham's contract will run out in the summer.
Given that Cunningham's Cardiff City career is yet to really hit the ground — he played just eight games last season after signing from Preston — and this latest setback further stunting his progress, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he might have played his final game for the Bluebirds.
Of course, many will hope that is not the case, especially after he started this season like a house on fire up at Ewood Park.
To all intents and purposes, Cunningham has been one of Rovers' players of the season and a short loan up there appeared to be a masterstroke from Warnock.
The manager would have been excited at the prospect of having a returning player who was brimming with confidence and providing real competition for Bennett.
Given the little time he spent at Blackburn, he certainly made a telling impact and, on the surface at least, it appears to be a bigger blow to Blackburn than it does to Cardiff.
Mon Oct 14, 2019 7:01 pm
Looking ahead for what purpose? NW doesn't do January window unless forced too do so don't expect any signings ...
Mon Oct 14, 2019 7:22 pm
pembroke allan wrote:Looking ahead for what purpose? NW doesn't do January window unless forced too do so don't expect any signings ...
Correct Allan, Expect very few.
Mon Oct 14, 2019 7:38 pm
Forever Blue wrote:pembroke allan wrote:Looking ahead for what purpose? NW doesn't do January window unless forced too do so don't expect any signings ...
Correct Allan, Expect very few.
May see defender if situation requires it as short in that position but nothing else.
Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:14 pm
He only signed a two year deal on signing from Preston?
Not sure this is right you know.
Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:23 pm
His contract runs until June 2021 according to Wikipedia and Transfermarkt.
Tue Oct 15, 2019 12:32 pm
pembroke allan wrote:Looking ahead for what purpose? NW doesn't do January window unless forced too do so don't expect any signings ...
Also, if he does make signings they are the kind of players to suit his playing style...... For the final 5 months of his managership.
If his successor has a different playing style (I pray he does) he's left with even more Warnock type players. What will happen then is the new man will need at least 2 or 3 transfer windows before we can truly see his squad.