Joe Ralls is ready to put Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock on the spot.
The energetic, tenacious midfield player is keen to carry on taking penalties for Cardiff City this season even though he had to watch Kadeem Harris and Danny Ward step forward in pre-season.
Winger Harris was fouled three times during City’s 11-1 win at Bodmin Town in Cornwall and earned a hat-trick of penalties.
The former Wycombe player stepped up to fire home the first two and complete his goal treble, while he stepped aside for the final spot-kick and Ward tucked away his third goal of the game.
“Both Kads and Danny took their penalties really well,”: said Ralls. “But I want to take them in the Premier League if I am on the pitch and I hope that is what happens.
“But it was fantastic to see three beautifully taken penalties at Bodmin and it’s good that we have options as a team.”
Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson are Cardiff’s longest serving players, having both been with the Bluebirds almost exactly seven years.
But it was a new adventure which almost didn’t happen for Ralls. Bluebirds coaches were far from convinced by the teenager after his initial trial match in 2011.
He arrived in South Wales with close pal Jordan Carter. Both were playing for Farnborough Town and their representative felt they had enough qualify for a full-time career.
Carter failed to make the grade at Football League level, while Cardiff’s coaching staff were doubtful about Ralls.
The two friends had already had trials with Chelsea, Everton, Notts County and had been due to play in a match at Fulham.
“That game was called off and we didn’t go to Fulham,” says Ralls. “That’s when we were taken to Cardiff and everything changed.”
While coaches voiced their doubts, though, Ralls had an ally in the Bluebirds camp because Youth Academy manager Neal Ardley told his backroom team: “I’m signing Joe.”
Ardley had seen something in Ardley, won over by a couple of passes which opened up the opposing defence, and backed his intuition when those around him were saying ‘really?’
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That faith has paid massive dividends for City.
“Gunnar and I are from the old guard,” said Ralls, speaking at Liskeard AFC after training session at the Cornish club.
“Cardiff have given me the platform to do my best and I feel comfortable here.”
Ralls played at youth level for home town team Aldershot and then joined Farnborough, while he spent 2013-14 on loan at Yeovil while Cardiff were battling through their first Premier experience.
His big break came at Oxford United when manager Malky Mackay was short of players for a League Cup match and asked Ardley if he had any youth players ready to step up.
The recommendations were Ralls, Deji Oshilaja and Mamadou Diallo. Mackay sent Ralls on after 67 minutes, Cardiff won 3-1 after extra time and the young midfield player started against Huddersfield in the next round.
Former England under-19 international Ralls, now aged 24, has scored 19 goals in 179 first team appearances for Cardiff, while he played 38 matches for Yeovil on loan.
“I went out on loan when Cardiff were last in the Premier during 2013-14,” says Ralls. “I was a young lad and didn’t think I would be playing in the first team.
“This time, hopefully, I will have the chance to show what I can do.
“It was a massive achievement for all of us to earn promotion. We hung on in there and it was brilliant to finish runners-up and go up.
“It’s a long way from my Farnborough days now. Back then I was just trying to make my way as a football and now I am preparing for a Premier League season.
“That’s amazing. I have enjoyed every minute of my time in Cardiff. I have had a fantastic seven years.
“We have to be one of the fittest teams in the Premier League. Our focus is to outwork teams and keep going.
“Yes, some teams will ‘outskill’ Cardiff City in terms of the calibre of players they have, but we are confident in what we can do and we will upset a few teams.”
Ralls is clearly excited by the challenge of going head-to-head with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and more.
“It’s a challenge I relish, a challenge we all want,” says Ralls. “I can’t wait to test myself against players of that quality. We had a taste of it last season against Manchester City in the cup and, as hard as it was, I loved it.
“Not many of our squad have played in the Premier League and for us it’s an unknown quantity, but we hope to hit the ground running and I am determined to enjoy the experience.
“Our aim, of course, is to stay up. That’s number one.
“The new signings have been excellent, four lads who have fitted in well and shown the quality they have.”
Goalkeeper Alex Smithies, Greg Cunningham, Bobby Reid and Josh Murphy all impressed during Cardiff’s pre-season tour to Devon and Cornwall.
Which fixture, though, is Ralls looking forward to most this season.
“I was a Manchester United fan growing up and that game stands out, but it’s our final fixture of the season,” he says. “There are so many great stadiums to visit, but the most important factor is to pick up enough points to stay out of the bottom three.
“Nothing else really matters.”
