ETIEN VELIKONJA SET FOR DEBUT AT FOREST GREEN
Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:38 pm
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -31482064/ 
SUMMER recruit Etien Velikonja will make his Cardiff City debut at Forest Green Rovers tomorrow (3pm).
The Slovenian international completed his medical yesterday and will train with his new team-mates at their Vale of Glamorgan base for the first time this morning.
The 23-year-old striker was signed from NK Maribor for £1m but stayed with them for their Uefa Champions League matches against FK Zeleznicar from Sarajevo.
Maribor won the first leg of their second qualifying round tie 4-1 at home and emerged 2-1 winners away after the Bosnians had three players sent off.
Velikonja was an unused for the second leg, having played only a few minutes in the first game.
Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay said his three summer signings – Velikonja, midfielder Jordon Mutch and goalkeeper Joe Lewis – will play against the Conference club from Gloucestershire.
“Everybody, including the new signings, will play at some stage,” said Mackay.
“This is our first match after two weeks of hard training in Switzerland and back home at the Vale.
“It’s important everybody has the chance to play some football now.”
Young winger Kadeem Harris had treatment for a minor muscle problem during City’s week-long training camp in Switzerland but he is fully fit again and back in training.
Tomorrow’s opponents Forest Green are managed by Dave Hockaday, the former Blackpool, Swindon and Hull player.
Hockaday played for Swindon at the same time as Cardiff assistant manager David Kerslake and was on the coaching staff at Watford when Mackay was playing for the Hornets.
Forest Green have had mixed results from their pre-season matches so far, winning 5-1 at Southern League outfit Shortwood United but losing 4-0 to Paulo Di Canio’s Swindon.
SUMMER recruit Etien Velikonja will make his Cardiff City debut at Forest Green Rovers tomorrow (3pm).
The Slovenian international completed his medical yesterday and will train with his new team-mates at their Vale of Glamorgan base for the first time this morning.
The 23-year-old striker was signed from NK Maribor for £1m but stayed with them for their Uefa Champions League matches against FK Zeleznicar from Sarajevo.
Maribor won the first leg of their second qualifying round tie 4-1 at home and emerged 2-1 winners away after the Bosnians had three players sent off.
Velikonja was an unused for the second leg, having played only a few minutes in the first game.
Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay said his three summer signings – Velikonja, midfielder Jordon Mutch and goalkeeper Joe Lewis – will play against the Conference club from Gloucestershire.
“Everybody, including the new signings, will play at some stage,” said Mackay.
“This is our first match after two weeks of hard training in Switzerland and back home at the Vale.
“It’s important everybody has the chance to play some football now.”
Young winger Kadeem Harris had treatment for a minor muscle problem during City’s week-long training camp in Switzerland but he is fully fit again and back in training.
Tomorrow’s opponents Forest Green are managed by Dave Hockaday, the former Blackpool, Swindon and Hull player.
Hockaday played for Swindon at the same time as Cardiff assistant manager David Kerslake and was on the coaching staff at Watford when Mackay was playing for the Hornets.
Forest Green have had mixed results from their pre-season matches so far, winning 5-1 at Southern League outfit Shortwood United but losing 4-0 to Paulo Di Canio’s Swindon.