Cardiff City are entering a new era under manager Neil Warnock, who had already brought four new players to the club who were available as free agents. Junior Hoilett, Sol Bamaba, Marouane Chamakh and Kieran Richardson could all make their debuts against Bristol City on Friday night. But Josh Thomas believes there is also talent that could be promoted from the development squad and picks out three to look out for.
Cardiff City’s development squad has, in recent years, produced top quality talent who have gone on to play for the first team, and also for Wales, Premier League clubs and beyond. These have included Aaron Ramsey, Chris Gunter, Joe Ledley and James Collins. The list goes on.
Now, despite the switch of first team manager from Paul Trollope to Neil Warnock, the under-23 development squad of 2016/17 have more players close to a breakthrough this season.
After a bright start – when they won their opening four matches – results have slipped a little. They lost 1-0 to Barnsley on Monday and currently have four victories, three defeats, and two draws from their opening nine games of the season.
Three key players to keep an eye out for are defender Rhys Abbruzzese, midfielder Lloyd Humphries and striker Jamie Bird. All three have all gone on to be offered professional deals with Cardiff City and are in their first year as professionals at the club.
Rhys Abbruzzese
Son of David Abbruzzese, who played for Newport County in the late 1980s, Rhys is tipped to claim first team honours in the near future.
The 18-year-old youngster, who is from Aberdare, was signed up as a nine-year-old and has continued to impress in all the age categories in which he has played.
He signed his first professional contract with Cardiff City on the weekend of the 5th February 2016 and was presented to the crowd against MK Dons.
The coaches have been impressed with his ability to quickly cover ground up and down the field and he is known to have a good attitude. Composed on the ball, he is mature for his age and is certainly one to look out for in the near future.
Jamie Bird
Like Abbruzzese, Bird signed his first professional contract with the Bluebirds in February and was also presented to crowd at the MK Dons game. Since the age of eight, the young striker has come through the ranks at the club. Now aged 18, three years have passed since he signed apprenticeship forms at the age of 15.
Originally from Cwmbran, Bird is seen as future attacking prospect. He scores goals, has pace, and never stops running. But he is also a sound and controlled technical player with good skills. He is certainly one to look out for in the future.
Lloyd Humphries
Humphries has only just turned 18 and is originally from Neath. At 15 he suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury, but he has battled back strongly.
Versatile, he has found his best position as a No.10 who can run all day and is known to score spectacular goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dK88ZaDTh4
With goals like those, fans should be in for a treat if he breaks into the first team.
He could be one of those players whose ability has you out of your seat, like first team midfielder Peter Whittingham. Like Whittingham, Humphries is renowned for the quality of his passing. He is a team man with a never-say-die attitude. I, for one, cannot wait to see what he does next and will be watching his progress intently.
