' Arsenal youngster Jordi Osei-Tutu / Tom Sang '

Cardiff City brought in Arsenal youngster Jordi Osei-Tutu on loan at the beginning of the campaign and he started tremendously. A hamstring injury curtailed his progress, though, and he has not been seen since the clash with Middlesbrough on October 24.


Tuesday 5th January 2020

By Glen Williams

In Osei-Tutu's absence, Leandro Bacuna has been drafted in at right-back. While not a natural defender, Bacuna has tried his utmost and, on the whole, has filled in admirably, but the biggest problem this presents is that it weakens two areas of the pitch.

Cardiff have sorely missed Bacuna's pace, dynamism and go-forward in them middle of the park. His engine, ability to run with the ball and strength are all assets which make him a very good midfielder at this level.

But having been consigned to the position of makeshift right-back, it is no understatement to say that Cardiff have been missing his presence in midfield massively.

Tom Sang's recall from Cheltenham might just hint at that problem being resolved over the coming weeks.

Sang has just six months now to be given his chance.

The Manchester United youth product is more adept further up the pitch on either wing, or perhaps in that No.10 role, however these positions are far better stocked at the minute. United released Sang and City snapped him up.

This could all point to Sang being given a shot at deputising for Osei-Tutu at right-back and, importantly, therefore freeing up Bacuna to take up his rightful spot in the middle of the park.


It is thought Osei-Tutu is not too far away from a return. He was scheduled to return to the first-team training fold shortly after Christmas, with a view to him being involved on match day from the middle of January onwards.

And make no mistake that a right-back is certainly on Cardiff's shopping list this month - whether they get one or not is another matter all together.

But Neil Harris last week said that he was tempted to bring Sang back to the Welsh capital because he felt the youngster could play a part in the second half of the season.

"Large parts of me think that if he came back to us he would have some involvement," Harris said before Sang's recall was made official.

"Because we do like him and we have got a lot of young players in the squad who Tom is in front of, realistically."

We have already seen youth been given a chance on the other flank, with Joel Bagan filling in creditably in the absence of Joe Bennett and Greg Cunningham at the beginning of the season.

With no standout right back peering their head above the parapet in the academy ranks, a slight shift for Sang might be the best option.

He will be cup tied this weekend for the FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest, though, which is unfortunate because that would have presented a perfect opportunity to see him cut his teeth at right back in a Bluebirds shirt.

And Cardiff will be hopeful that Osei-Tutu can be back in the fray for their next Championship match against Norwich City on January 15.

Should that not be the case, though, it might finally be Sang's chance to step up and show exactly what he can do, even if that means it is at right-back, for the greater good of the team.

Whether it is Sang or the return of Osei-Tutu, there is a growing sense that something needs to change at right-back, because Cardiff City desperately need Bacuna back in the middle.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Not good enough for Cheltenham so how is he good enough for us?

TOM SANG.

I read earlier,apparently Cheltenham fans were happy with him in League 2, but as a good squad player and back up player if any of their first team got injured.




Cheltenham Town boss Michael Duff

"I think its been a good loan," Duff added.

"It's been a difficult one for him in terms of he's been a little bit in and out, but I think it'll be interesting what Cardiff think because I think he will go back into their first team group now.

Neil Harris said Cardiff would only recall Tom Sang if they thought he had a part to play this season. Well, he's back with the Bluebirds now.

You never know, at least he comes into the squad with fresh determination, a different voice, everyone on here that's seen him play have said he's done okay so deserves a chance. Bacuna is now a busted flush at right back.

Not good enough for Cheltenham so how is he good enough for us?

Better players around him...?

So he can’t get in the Cheltenham team but he can possibly get in ours. Unbelievable

Give him a chance. He may rise to the ocassion

Sang had found it difficult, really, to break into a Robins team which was settled and successful, with West Brom loanee Finn Azaz impressing and keeping him out of the team in an attacking sense.

It saw the Bluebirds youngster tried out at right-back, or right-wing back more specifically, in a bid to crowbar the talented utility man into the team.

Sang, 21, played two EFL trophy matches at right-wing back, playing all 90 minutes, and his last appearance, an 80-minute outing against Colchester United in the league, was also at right-back.

That, of course, is a position which has caused many headaches at Cardiff City Stadium this term.