Cardiff City

Cardiff City's Perry Ng discusses the Bluebirds' defensive injuries and their Championship ambitions ahead of Saturday's game against Sheffield United.

Image source, BBC Sport

Cardiff City supporters have voiced their pleasure after the club's unbeaten start to the Championship season amid an injury crisis at centre-back.

The Bluebirds rescued a late point on the opening weekend at Wrexham before earning a 2-2 draw at Derby County without a senior centre-back available.

Here is what some fans had to say:

Phil: We showed great patience and never lost sight of the game plan [against Derby]. Impressive that the players all pulled together throughout the game. Sure, more players are needed, but only if the right quality and, most importantly, fit for the culture BBM is building.

Paul: Not a bad result when you consider that we could not field a central defender. Thought Ronan Kpakio was a bit vulnerable in defence but a good assist for Cian Ashford. Confident we'll play worse this season and win. C'mon Bluebirds.

Howie: With two makeshift centre-backs, this was a good away point. It should be interesting when everybody is fit.

David: City are very much a work in progress, having spent a season in League One. A satisfactory away point, it has to be said.

Cardiff City are hoping to end a run of six successive defeats by Sheffield United when the sides meet on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Blades are yet to score a league goal so far this season.

• Cardiff City have lost each of their past three home league games against Sheffield United, as many defeats as across their prior 12 matches on home soil combined between 1979 and 2017.

• Sheffield United have won each of their past six league games against Cardiff City since December 2021, it is the Blades' longest ongoing winning run against any current Championship outfit.

• Cardiff are unbeaten across their past eight league games against Yorkshire opposition (W6 D2), since a 3-1 home defeat to Bradford City in September last year.

• Both of Sheffield United's two league games this season finished with goalless draws, they have not played three successive 0-0 draws since April 1971.

• Sheffield United are winless across their past four league games against newly promoted opposition (D1 L3), last enduring a longer run between May 2015 and March 2016 (eight games).

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Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy discusses new signing Krystian Bielik and previews Saturday's Championship fixture against Sheffield United.

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff City defender Perry Ng says he is closer to achieving his ambition of playing for Singapore.

Liverpool-born Ng qualifies through his paternal grandfather and has long held the desire to play for the Lions and make his mark at international level.

The 30-year-old defender received his Singapore permanent resident status in March 2025 and has since applied for citizenship via the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme.

Ng has previously spoke of his frustrations in becoming a citizen, admitting he found it confusing.

"I think we're getting closer," Ng said.

"I think in September I'll have to go, maybe do a few more different things for the criteria for the passport, but hopefully it's not too far away now."

Ng spent his off-season break in Singapore, the country he hopes to one day wear the national jersey for.

"I spent a month in Singapore [this summer]," added Ng.

"I got to do a lot of activities and spend time with my family and different community events. It was fantastic."

Ng was named in the PFA League One team of the year last season as Cardiff won promotion back to the Championship.

He says he is enjoying life under head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, having worked under multiple managers during his time with Cardiff.

"I think I've lost count now. I think it was 11 or 12 [managers]," Ng said.

"I've been waiting for a manager like Brian to come in. So I feel like, why would I leave now?

"I want to continue working with Brian mostly. I think he's one of the best managers in the league and I'm sure he'll have a bright future.

"Just the way he sees football and the way he wants us to play, and how detailed he is on and off the pitch. I think that's been missing at times from my time at Cardiff. He's just a joy to work with every day."

Ng is contracted to Cardiff until 2028 and Barry-Murphy has expressed how "hugely important" he is to the club.

"We're now looking for him to really assume the leadership role that he's done so well and improve himself because he's a very important player for us," Barry-Murphy said.

"Perry is a rhythm player. Once he gets his rhythm and starts playing a lot of games, he tends to improve very quickly.

"We want that from him."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City's Perry Ng and new recruit Jack Moylan have been named in the League One team of the season for 2025-26.

Right-back Ng was named alongside Lincoln City pair Sonny Bradley and Tendayi Darikwa and Stevenage's Carl Piergianni at Tuesday's Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Awards.

Moylan, who joined Cardiff in the summer, was included after helping Lincoln win promotion to the Championship. Imps goalkeeper George Wickens also made the PFA team.

Stockport County's Oliver Norwood and Reading's Lewis Wing were the other midfielders in the team of the season, with Stockport striker Kyle Wootton, Bolton loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry and Dan Ballard - who left Leyton Orient for Bristol City in the summer - in attack.

The PFA Awards were held in Manchester on Tuesday, with Bruno Fernandes crowned men's player of the year and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw taking the top women's award.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Robert Earnshaw says Noah Anyadike has achieved something "incredible" by becoming Cardiff City's youngest ever first-team player – but has told the teenage defender the hard work starts now.

Academy player Anyadike, from Carmarthenshire, made his senior debut in Tuesday's EFL Cup defeat to Norwich City at the age of 15 years and 98 days old.

That broke the club record set by Axel Donczew last season, and also made Anyadike the youngest player to feature in the EFL Cup as he broke a record previously held by Liverpool's Harvey Elliott.

"It's amazing because it's what you work for and congratulations to young Anyadike," said former striker Earnshaw, who made his senior Bluebirds debut when aged 16.

"It's so young and it's so interesting because there is such a difference between 15 to 16 and then 16 to 17. It feels like five years when you are there yourself.

"It's an experience you are very proud of and you remember. Now it's where the work starts. It's not about getting just one game on the books."

Anyadike was pressed into action as a result of Cardiff's defensive injury crisis, with Calum Chambers, Dylan Lawlor and Will Fish all sidelined.

Gabriel Osho also picked up an injury in the club's opening Championship game of the new season against Wrexham, but Cardiff are hopeful he may be available for this Saturday's league meeting with Sheffield United.

Former Wales international Earnshaw says Anyadike must now seek consistency as he looks to fulfil his promise.

"Always trying to keep improving is the key," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"The game doesn't stop, there's always another test and another player and different things you have to work on.

"You don't want one game, you want 250, 500, 700 games. Consistency is what you need to get to that."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Brian Barry-Murphy has revealed Cardiff City plan to allow midfielder Eli King to depart on loan in the final days for the transfer window.

King has not featured for the Bluebirds in a competitive fixture since August 2025, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in training.

The 23-year-old has been named on the bench twice this season, but was absent from the squad beaten 2-1 by Norwich in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening.

Instead, King featured for Cardiff's under-21s earlier in the day, a decision Barry-Murphy felt better suited the former Wales youth international's fitness needs.

"The intention is for him to go on loan and he's just assessing his options as he tries to complete a full game since his injury," said Barry-Murphy.

"He would have been unlikely to get the minutes he needs to progress [against Norwich].

"He's obviously coming back from a very serious injury so we want to make sure he doesn't miss out on any game-time on the bench for no reason."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Former Cardiff City attacking midfielder Omari Kellyman has secured a permanent switch from Chelsea to RC Strasbourg.

The 20-year-old spent the duration of the 2025-26 season on loan with the Bluebirds and played a pivotal role in helping Brian Barry-Murphy's side gain promotion into the Championship.

The England Under-19 international netted 11 goals and registered two assists in the league in what was an impressive campaign for the youngster.

He has signed a contract through to the end of the 2030-31 season with Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg.

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Former Cardiff City forward Nathan Blake believes the Bluebirds are right not to rush into the market for a centre-back despite their defensive injury crisis.

Cardiff were without a senior option at centre-back for Saturday's 2-2 draw at Derby County, and could be in a similar boat when they host Norwich in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Dylan Lawlor, Calum Chambers, Will Fish and Gabriel Osho are all out injured, but Blake feels his old side should still exercise caution on the transfer front.

"I understand if they do [sign someone], but I would also understand if they were slightly reluctant, because once everyone is fit, you're back to having five or six centre-halves," he said on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

"Only two are going to play, three maximum. If you sign a player and you tell him he's going to play, he plays well, there's only one of the four who you can bring back in."

Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has echoed that view, insisting clubs would be reluctant to send Cardiff another player if they cast a loanee aside once their injured defenders return.

The Bluebirds know they will be without Fish for an extended period, but Barry-Murphy has not confirmed a timescale for the return of Lawlor (pictured above), Chambers or Osho.

Cardiff's vulnerable fitness issues could lead to a debut for 15-year-old defender Noah Anyadike, who featured in the club's final pre-season friendly against AS Roma.

"I know there is competition for places; I believe in that heavily, but, as a manager, you also don't want to upset your balance," Blake added.

"He [Brian Barry-Murphy] has been really strategic in his signings, both last season and this season. They haven't rushed out like a kiddy in a sweets shop."

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Cardiff City striker Yousef Salech has been named Carabao Cup player of the round after starring in their victory over Swindon Town.

The Danish forward scored twice and provided an assist as the Bluebirds got their campaign going with a win over League Two opposition.

Salech, 24, scored a penalty to draw Cardiff level before giving them the lead on the stroke of half-time with a first-time volley.

He then set up Jack Moylan for the winner that earned a home tie against Championship rivals Norwich City in the second round on Tuesday, 25 August (19:00 BST).

Salech heads into that game having scored his first league goal of the season in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Derby County.

"He played really well. His movement was really good, and he dominated physically against a really good player," head coach Brian Barry-Murphy said of Salech's recent performance.

Cian Ashford says he has high hopes for Cardiff City - and himself - after an encouraging start to the new Championship season.

Ashford scored his first goal of the new campaign in Saturday's draw at Derby County.

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Brian Barry-Murphy has stressed he must protect Rubin Colwill's fitness, despite the midfielder's importance to Cardiff City.

Colwill, 24, had been suffering with an ankle concern in pre-season but has returned to action with a goal and an assist in Cardiff's two opening Championship fixtures.

Barry-Murphy admitted he cannot be overzealous with Colwill's involvement after he was withdrawn before the hour during the Bluebirds' 2-2 draw at Derby.

"I don't want to be greedy with how often he has played and how little he has trained," said Barry-Murphy.

"It's good to have him back. He improved a lot through the game. We will try to keep him fit."

Colwill teed up Yousuf Salech for Cardiff's second goal at Derby, continuing his fine start to the campaign after a free-kick equaliser against Wrexham.

Barry-Murphy is having to contend with several injuries at the start of his first Championship campaign, with four centre-backs currently out.

He does not expect to add summer signing Jack Moylan to his list of unavailable players, even though he was forced off at Pride Park.

"It was just a dead leg. The way Jack plays the game, there is going to be a lot of contact made. He will be fine," Barry-Murphy said.

Cardiff face Championship rivals Norwich City in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, 25 August (19:00 BST).

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Cian Ashford praised Rubin Colwill's maturity and backed his teammate to play a key role for the Bluebirds this season.

In the absence of the injured Calum Chambers, Colwill, 24, wore the armband as Cardiff were pegged back twice to draw 2-2 at Derby on Saturday.

The 10-time Welsh international caught the eye on the opening weekend with a stunning late free-kick against Wrexham before turning provider at Pride Park.

Colwill teed up Yousuf Salech for Cardiff's second goal of the afternoon, after Ashford, 21, had opened the scoring, although the visitors saw their lead wiped out.

"You could definitely see last year, and this year, how mature his game is, how good he is for us, how positive he is getting on the ball and driving with it," said Ashford.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

"He creates a lot of positive moments. I think he is going to be key for us this year.

"He's a very big lad as well. Maybe he will get his head on a couple of goals this year, as well."

Ashford (pictured above) was also full of praise for summer signing Jack Moylan, with whom he has already started to form a positive relationship in the final third.

Moylan, who arrived from fellow promoted side Lincoln City, has already opened his Cardiff account with a goal against Swindon Town in the Carabao Cup.

But what has impressed Ashford more than anything is how quickly the Republic of Ireland international has settled in south Wales.

"He's quite easy to play with, to be honest. He's come in and done well," Cardiff academy graduate Ashford continued.

"Not only can I say that [I've got a good connection with him], but a few other boys will agree with that. He's been a good addition to the squad.

"I'm feeling positive. I've got high hopes for me and the team. I'm hoping we can go on and have a good season together."