By Gareth James
Cardiff City have revealed that Rubin Colwill has taken part in fewer than half of their training sessions this season.
The Wales midfielder’s progress has been beset by injuries, even though he made the World Cup squad for Qatar and came on as a substitute in the defeat to England.
Colwill has actually managed 12 appearances for Cardiff this season, but 11 of those have been off the bench and his manager Mark Hudson has admitted there are concerns over the durability of the 20-year-old, despite his obvious talent.
Colwill has started only once this term but played 76 minutes of a development game in midweek and scored from a free-kick.
He could make another appearance for the Bluebirds at home to QPR on Boxing Day but it is unlikely to be as a starter, says manager Mark Hudson, who has explained how little Colwill has been able to train.
“For Rubin, he has had 47 percent of the sessions available this season,” said Hudson.
“That’s something that people don’t see. If we put him out there to start, we are putting him at risk.
“You’re not going to see the best Rubin. We detail it to him, we don’t hide it. The same with Isaak as well. It’s about making sure we aren’t putting them at risk and losing them long term.
“Rubin has played 76 minutes, scored a great free-kick, had some great flashes and moments in the game and that’s exactly what we wanted and why we put him in the game.
“He has not had a start for such a long time. If I had started him against Blackpool, would he have been ready?
“Maybe not, because the tempo would have been higher. We don’t want to dip someone in and not let them be able to perform. We want them to be at the highest level.”
“I can speak honestly, me and Rubin speak a lot. We have gone through his full season. He has done 47 percent of the sessions available,” Hudson reiterated.
“He broke down in pre-season, because of his body growth. He then came back from that hamstring injury which he re-injured. Then we were going towards his call-up, late September, he came back from that and got injured on the back end of that.
“We want Rubin to be at his highest level,” Hudson explained.
Colwill, who returned with the rest of the Wales squad from Qatar three weeks ago after their first World Cup in 64-years, has not started a competitive game for the Bluebirds since August.
☄️ What a free-kick from @RubinColwill! 💙
📺 Watch the highlights from our #PLCup victory on @CardiffCityTV ➡️ https://t.co/nRnssNIfpP#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/4zq3ff8hQL
— Cardiff City Academy (@CF11Academy) December 22, 2022
“He missed a month and then we went through October into November. Then there was disruption and he pulled a muscle in his hip. There is so much growth in Rubin. If we had thrown him in at any point he would have been out much longer.
“I really enjoy watching Rubin play, but he has had a lack of trust in his own body. I’m not putting words in his mouth, it’s something we speak about,” added Hudson.
“He got back on the pitch before the World Cup, which is amazing, touching the ground in a World Cup game which is amazing for him and the club.
“Then he has been fit and available since then and this (U21s game) is the first game he has managed to start for a long time.
“It shows you, we could rush him back and throw him in, but he wouldn’t have been ready or showed the best Rubin. It’s our job to get him firing on all cylinders. Then, well, what a player we’ve got.”
