Neil Warnock has been named Championship manager of the month, but he won’t be thinking about that award as he prepares for Cardiff City’s big clash at Fulham.
Warnock’s Bluebirds have a 100 per cent record after five League matches and are in supreme form, but the Yorkshireman knows Saturday’s clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage is going to be tough.
He is happy to be manager of the month for August, while four-goal Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has taken the player award.
Warnock, though, is only thinking of the clash with Fulham and thoughts of those awards won’t linger in his mind this weekend as he plans ahead.
Cardiff are in London intent on making it six Championship wins in a row, while Warnock is delighted that the club’s directors are backing him 100 per cent.
The board turned down bids for striker Kenneth Zohore and gave Warnock the go-ahead to sign midfield players Liam Feeney from Blackburn and Craig Bryson from Derby.
There was an offer of £13m put ing for Zohore with Everton, Hull and Brighton keen.
“I would imagine the board of years ago would have probably snapped one or two offers up,” said Warnock.
“But these offers weren’t right for us and where we’re looking to be. Ken’s an extremely important player for us.”
“We were delighted when the window closed that Ken was still here.
“He needs another year to play under me as he gets stronger.
“I see a lot more maturity from him than when he was first in the team and while he might be disappointed that he hasn’t scored goals in the last few games, his contribution has been super.
“It’s good for us both really because we need Ken and I think Ken needs us for another season.”
The Bluebirds signed Bryson from Derby and Feeney from Blackburn on transfer deadline day.
“Craig was the one I would have liked to have got permanently, but we had to take him on loan and now it’s up to us and the player to show what he can do,” he says.
“I think Gary Rowett (Derby’s manager) was loathe to let him come here.
“He’s one of those that doesn’t catch the eye, but you’d always give him eight out of 10.
“Liam should have been with me a couple of years ago at Rotherham then here at Cardiff in the last transfer window.
“He needs me because he’s not really been a regular at Blackburn and the way I see him playing I think he can do very well for me.”
Cardiff City, probable (v Fulham): Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Mendez-Laing, Damour, Hoilett, Zohore. Subs: Richards, Manga, Tomlin, Bryson, Feeney, Halford, Murphy, Bogle, D Ward.
