Allan McGregor is Cardiff City’s new number one – and he is also number six!
Edinburgh-born McGregor, 34, has joined the Bluebirds on loan until the end of this season and has been handed the number one jersey vacated by David Marshall when he left South Wales to sign for Hull City.
Manager Neil Warnock looks certain to give McGregor the nod to start for Cardiff’s Championship clash with Burton Albion on Saturday (3pm) and that will make him the sixth goalkeeper to play for the first team over the first six months of 2016-17.
He picks up the gloves for Cardiff following Marshall, Ben Wilson, Brian Murphy, Simon Moore and Ben Amos.
Scottish international McGregor had slipped to number three at Premier League Hull City, falling behind Marshall and Swiss goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic.
That was a difficult situation for McGregor, who had been Hull’s starting keeper for the previous three seasons, but lost his place after sustaining a back injury which needed surgery last summer.
He hasn’t played for the Tigers at all so far this season and has now committed to the Bluebirds.
Marshall still faces a battle to play Premier League football because has started in their last three matches and was outstanding during their 3-1 win against Bournemouth last weekend.
That was also his first Premier League appearances in almost four months, having played in a 2-0 win against Swansea (FA Cup) and the two-goal defeat against Manchester United (EFL Cup).
McGregor follows proud tradition of Scottish goalkeepers playing for Cardiff City and among those who came before him are Marshall (2009-2016), Neil Alexander (2001-2007), George Wood (1987-1990), Jim Brown (1982-1983), Jim Eadie (1966-1972), Alf Steel (1950-51) and Eire-born ‘Jock’ Leckie, who moved to the town of Kirkcaldy in Fife and played for Raith Rovers before heading to South Wales.
While McGregor prepares for his Bluebirds’ debut against Burton Albion, manager Warnock will be keeping an occasional check on the Africa Cup of Nations.
Cardiff centre-half Bruno Manga has played a full part in Gabon’s group matches so far, both ending 1-1 (v Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso).
The final match for Gabon at this stage is against group leaders Cameroon in Libreville on Saturday.
If Gabon lose they will go out of the competition, while even draw is unlikely to save them with the winners and runners-up qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Manga could not be back in time to make himself available for next Tuesday’s trip to Brighton, but Gabon’s exit would mean he could get back by the end of next week.
Captain Sean Morrison, Sol Bamba and Matt Connolly are the three centre-backs in City’s squad for the match against Burton at home on Saturday and the trip to Brighton, while Manga could return in time for fixtures against Reading (away) and Preston North End (home).
Warnock would then have to make a decision on Manga’s future. The defender is likely to move on if Cardiff receive the right transfer offer financially, but Cardiff’s manager has also made it clear he would be happy, from a football viewpoint, for Manga to stay for the rest of this season at least.
