Neil Warnock and his coaching team are turning up the pressure on Cardiff City’s development and Academy players.
That doesn’t mean he wants his young Bluebirds stressing, but he certainly wants them progressing.
Today (Monday), Cardiff’s under-23 team play their first Premier Development League fixture of the season, taking on Sheffield Wednesday at Leckwith International Stadium (2pm).
The under-18, with Craig Bellamy in the main coaching role, opened their season with a 2-2 draw at Hull City on Saturday.
There is a breath of fresh air blowing through the under-23 and Academy corridors and it’s all for the good of the club’s future.
Too many young guns over the years have stagnated when they should have been developing.
Tommy O’Sullivan, Theo Wharton, Tom James and more were tipped for first team honours with Cardiff. All three made appearances, James making his debut in the Premier League, and all of them have moved on.
O’Sullivan is with Colchester United, Wharton plays for York City and James is at Yeovil Town.
Now Warnock has re-opened the path youth football to first team. The door to senior football seems to have been closed for too long and Warnock has kicked it open.
Attacking midfield player Mark Harris and full-back Cameron Coxe are the players currently looking capable of striding through it.
Jarred Harvey, Cardiff’s under-23 coach, says: “Things became over-saturated with players over the years, just before under-23 level.
“The pathway for good young players to come in was blocked and a conscious decision was made to cut squad numbers and give those with real potential coming through from younger age groups more playing time.
“This season we will give players the chance to step up to the next age group and earn the exposure they need.
“Mark Harris is a good example. He was exciting at the age of 18 and when he was give a chance he kicked on.
“There are others, including Cameron Coxe, but I don’t want to single out individual players too much.”
Harvey coached City’s under-23 team alongside Andy Legg, while Bellamy is in charge at under-18 level.
“We are all here to develop players capable of stepping up,” says Harvey. “We all know what the manager wants.”
Warnock takes a big interest in Cardiff’s young players and was at AFC Bideford, sitting in the main stand, to watch their pre-season 2-2 draw.
Cardiff City Premier Development League Two South fixtures:
August
Monday 14 v Sheffield Wednesday (home, Leckwith International Stadium, 2pm)
Monday 21 v Sheffield United (away, Stocksbridge FC, 2pm)
Friday 25 v Crewe Alexandra (home, Leckwith Int Stadium, 2pm)
September
Monday 4 v Huddersfield Town (away, John Smith’s Stadium, 1pm)
Monday 11 v Hull City (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)
Monday 18 v Burnley (away, Turf Moor, 2pm)
Monday 25 v Charlton Athletic (home, Leckwith Int Stadium, 2pm)
October
Monday 9 v Colchester United (away, CUFC training ground, 1pm)
Monday 16 v Millwall (away, Dartford FC, 2pm)
Monday 23 v Watford (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)
Monday 30 v QPR (away, Harlington Sports Ground, 1pm)
November
Monday 13 v Coventry City (home, Leckwith Int Stadium, 2pm)
Monday 20 v Ipswich Town (away, ITFC Training Ground, 1pm)
Monday 27 v Bristol City (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm),
December
Monday 11 v Crystal Palace (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)
Monday 18 v Charlton Athletic (away, Greenborough FC, 2pm)
January
Monday 8 v Millwall (home, Leckwith Int Stadium, 2pm)
Monday 15 v Watford (away, WFC Training Ground, 2pm)
Monday 29 v Coventry City (away, Ricoh Arena, 2pm)
February
Monday 5 v QPR (home, Leckwith Int Stadium, 2pm)
Monday 12 v Ipswich Town (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)
Monday 19 v Bristol City (away, SGS Stadium, 1pm)
March
Monday 5 v Colchester United (home, Leckwith Int Stadium, 2pm)
Tuesday 13 v Crystal Palace (away, Selhurst Park, 1pm)
Monday 19 v Bolton Wanderers (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)
Friday 23 v Leeds United (away, Elland Road, 7pm)
April
Monday 9 v Birmingham City (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)
Friday 13 v Barnsley (away, BFC Training Ground, 2pm)
Monday 23 v Nottingham Forest (home, Cardiff City Stadium, 7pm)
