Leon Barnett available for City today

16 March 2013 11:40
The new defender is available for selection after joining from Norwich on Thursday.

With Mark Hudson and Ben Turner both out then Barnett is likely to make his debut at Hillsborough this afternoon.

With 10 games to go City need some experience at the back and with no disprespect to Ben Nugent it's an awful lot of responsibility on the teenagers shoulder to be the main defender as City look to earn promotion. So Barnett's arrival will enable Malky Maky to either player Nugent alongside Barnett with Matt Connolly returning to right back or I think more likely he will bring Kevin McNaughton in at right back and let Connolly play with Barnett in the centre.

There are no other injuries reported in the City squad so it's down to selection, tactics and deciding who to play. With no win in the last three games including two home draws will Malky look to maybe bring in Mutch or Kim. Even Don Cowie could start in a bid to change things around. Can he get Peter Whittingham to be more involved in the attacking half of the pitch? Can Joe Mason do a job?

If we are vulnernable at the back because of injury and playing players out of positon then we must counter that with being more efficient up front and look to get some goals. We've not scored more than two in a game (or won by a two goal margin) since Blackburn away on 7th December.

Sheffild Wednesday have lost striker Connor Wickham. He has been recalled by Sunderland. Wickham scored Wednesday's winner last weekend against Leicester City.

So far since Jan 1st Sheff Weds have beaten Hull City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Leicester City all while they were in the top 6. So it's not going to be an easy game for Cardiff this afternoon.

With Watford at Barnsley and Hull enteratining a rampant Forest side I think a Cardiff win today would be massive and see City edge further clear at the top.

Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff CitySaturday 3:00pm.

Source: Cardiff City Online

Source: FOOTYMAD