“ THE NEW CARDIFF CITY STAR “
Kieron Evans will be wearing the no 36 shirt.
By Glen Williams
Friday 6th August 2021
Another Cardiff City young star who will be in the first team squad this season, Cardiff now have eight young stars in the squad giving McCarthy plenty to now chose from.
Cardiff’s Chairman Dalman has stated “Cardiff now have a squad full of future stars.”
Mick McCarthy:
"Kieron Evans played on Tuesday at West Brom, I went to watch the under-23s game, and he was outstanding.
"What we have got is some of the youngsters coming through now and Rubin Colwill was in the Welsh squad.
"So we’ve got some back-up with some youngsters who really need to be used as well."
For the large majority of supporters, Evans will be a player they have never seen play as he is yet to make his first-team debut, despite featuring in a number of squads last term.
Only ardent followers of Cardiff's under-23s will really know what he is like and he appears to be some talent, a lovely dribbler with an eye for goal and a beautiful cross.
His talent has not gone unnoticed elsewhere, either, with Newcastle United, West Brom, Burnley and Sheffield United having registered their interest in the player last season before he signed a two-year deal with the Bluebirds this summer, which is a big vote of confidence from the club.
The diminutive forward, who can play on either wing as well as in the No.10 role, is fortunate in the sense that Sheyi Ojo, Harry Wilson, Junior Hoilett and Jonny Williams have all left this summer, freeing up some room for him to go and grab his chance. And that is certainly how McCarthy views it.
"The landscape has changed here in terms of signings and money and whatever else," McCarthy said in his Thursday afternoon press conference.
"It might be the best thing that’s ever happened for Tom Davies, Kieron Evans, Mark Harris, Sam Bowen. All those players.
"I always get excited about that. I’d love a couple of these four or five to come through."
In an interview with WalesOnline, under-23s coach Steve Morison earlier this year said he had told Evans to target Hoilett's position and make it his own, because he has the ability to step up and thrive.
Morison said back in February: "I remember saying to Kieron, 'Do you want to be the next Junior Hoilett? Add end product to your game and you will be. You do everything else he can do, but he has goals and assists and that's why he has played at the highest level for such a long time.'
"That's his motivation."
There is no doubting now that Evans, who has been given the No.36 shirt this season, is fully part of McCarthy's first-team plans.
With wingers thin on the ground at Cardiff, he offers something different and is a player who can get bums off seats if afforded the opportunity.
There is no doubt that it is set to be another exciting season for City's youngsters, and fans, with the fruit of so much labour in the youth setup due to blossom over the course of the next 12 months.
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