Peter Whittingham celebrates his 10th anniversary as a Bluebird early in the new year – and marks it by playing against his former club Aston Villa on Monday.
That is Cardiff City’s only Championship fixture before ‘Whitts’ officially achieves a decade with the club – on January 11 – having been signed by manager Dave Jones from Villa in 2007.
Playmaker Whittingham would have missed Friday’s match at Brighton with a minor calf strain, but will be ready to play against Villa at Cardiff City Stadium on Monday, January 2 (3pm).
The 32-year-old is out of contract next summer, but manager Neil Warnock has confirmed he wants him to stay.
“Peter will be at this club as long as I am,” said Warnock. “ We’ll talk about that (new contract) before the FA Cup tie.”
City play Fulham at home in the third round on Sunday, December 8 (11.30am).
There is little doubt, if any at all, that Cardiff’s longest serving player will sign a new deal.
He is among the the top 10 Bluebirds’ players in terms of appearance, along with the likes of Phil Dwyer, Don Murray, Fred Keener, Peter King and Ron Stitfall.
Whittingham has scored 96 goals for City in around 450 first team appearances. He has been named in the Championship Team of the Season three times, was included in the Football League Team of the Decade in 2015 and has been voted Bluebirds player of the year.
He scored 25 goals in all competitions during 2009-10.
Whittingham started his professional playing career with Villa, playing in their FA Youth Cup winning team in 2002.
The following year he made his first team debut for the midlands club in a 1-1 Premier League draw against Newcastle United at St James Park.
He was, along with Lee Peltier, rated doubtful for the match at Brighton on Friday, which was postponed at 6pm after three inspections because of heavy fog.
Both are expected to be in the starting line-up against Aston Villa, while centre-back Bruno Manga will make his last appearance before joining his Gabon national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Manager Warnock is also focused on strengthening his squad during the January transfer window, which opens on Sunday and will close at 11pm on Tuesday, January 31.
