CLARKE BACK TO LEAD BIG PREM PUSH

difficult period. I kept coming back, then breaking down again,” he said.

“It was a case of taking my time with it, not trying to mask it with injections. I had to think about myself, so I can give 100 per cent when I’m out there.

“I want to play in every game, but the coaches and physios were telling me to take my time. The difficult part was not being out there with the lads, who have been doing unbelievably well.”

Cardiff failed to register a shot on target, but Preston – now fifth in the table – failed to make their dominance count.

Sean Maguire hit the side netting twice in the opening stages, before setting up a clear-cut chance in the 24th minute. His disguised through-ball put Billy Bodin in on goal but Bluebirds keeper Neil Etheridge reacted to deny the Preston winger from close range.

And North End midfielder Alan Browne should have done better after Cardiff defender Curtis Nelson gifted him possession 30 yards from goal.

Nelson said: “We took a point and a clean sheet from it, so have to consider that as a good start to the festive period.

“We knew Preston would be a test for us, but we acquitted ourselves well.”

CALUM CHAMBERS knew straight away.

He could tell after his first few training sessions at Arsenal with Mikel Arteta five years ago that he would be a top coach.

Chambers arrived at Arsenal as a raw 19-year-old defender from Southampton and says Arteta stood out in those first few weeks.

Arteta was 32 then and coming towards the end of his career and Chambers ( far right) remembers being struck by his footballing IQ.

The Spanish midfielder would offer him tips on his positioning, and played alongside him when he made his Gunners debut against Crystal Palace that August.

Chambers was Arteta’s teammate for the final two seasons