CITY SIGN STRIKER WARD
STRIKER CAN’T WAIT TO GET STARTED AT BLUEBIRDS AFTER AGREEING DEAL TO TEAM UP WITH HIS FORMER BOSS:
CARDIFF City yesterday confirmed the signing of striker Danny Ward from Rotherham United as Neil Warnock’s summer of recruitment continued at a pace.
The Bluebirds had held advanced talks with Ward earlier in the week and announced the transfer had been completed, with the fee believed to be worth £1.6millon.
Ward joins as Warnock’s fifth summer signing, but the only one so far to command a fee. Lee Camp, Neil Etheridge, Callum Paterson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing all arrived at Cardiff City on Bosman deals.
The 26-year-old forward joins former Rotherham teammates Greg Halford and Camp in the Cardiff squad.
After scoring 12 goals for the relegated Millers last season, Ward was a long-term Bluebirds target and he will add firepower to Warnock’s striking options, with the Cardiff boss targeting a promotion push next season.
He joins the club on a three-yeardeal.
Speaking to CardiffCity.co.uk, manager Warnock said: “I’ve worked with Danny and I know what he’s about. During my time at Rotherham he was either scoring the goals or making them for the team.
“He played wide left, right, in the hole, up front; Danny’s a crowdpleaser with very good energy levels, but I also think there’s a lot more to come from him.
“I’ve been chasing Danny since Christmas and I think we’ve finally got him now for an excellent price.
“We tried a few systems last season and I think we’re going to need that variety again; Danny gives us that flexibility in the attacking areas that we’re going to need.
“Danny knows what I want and this is a great opportunity for him.”
Discussing the move, Ward said: “I’m really glad to get everything sorted before pre-season starts and looking forward to getting going.
“I’ve played at Cardiff City Stadium a few times and always enjoy it; it’s a lovely place to play. Hopefully we can fill it up in the new season and really get going.
“The Gaffer, Blacky (Kevin Blackwell) and Jeppo (Ronnie Jepson) really turned things round at Rotherham when they came in and I loved playing for them.
“I’m looking forward to it again at my new club.
“I already know Mozza (Sean Morrison), Pilks (Anthony Pilkington), Pelts (Lee Peltier), Gunnar (Aron Gunnarsson) and a few others. Coming to a place where you already know people makes it a bit easier; I’m looking forward it.” CARDIFF City striker Kenneth Zohore has confirmed that he is suffering from a knee problem, although he still expects to start for Denmark in their Under-21 European Championship dead rubber against Czech Republic today.
The Danes slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Germany on Wednesday, a result that ended their interest in the competition after they had been beaten 2-0 by Italy in their opening group encounter.
Zohore came off the bench shortly after the restart in the game against Germany and proved a lively threat, although he was unable to prevent his side from being beaten.
And he handed the Bluebirds a major scare when he fell to the ground clutching his knee after the match.
The striker has since confirmed that he is suffering a knee problem, although he is hoping he will be selected to start for Denmark in their final match of the Poland tournament this weekend.
“I have come through, and I have a lot of energy, I would like to burn off in the last game before we go home,” the striker told fyens.dk .
“I will give everything, and so it does not matter if I have a little pain in the knee afterwards.”
The forward has had to settle for a place on the bench in both of his side’s games so far, with Denmark’s Under21 coach Niels Frederiksen opting to start FC Nordsjaelland’s Marcus Ingvartsen up front.
But the Cardiff man – eligible to play for Denmark’s Under-21 side by virtue of being 21 when the qualifying campaign for the tournament in Poland got underway – admits he hopes his performance against the Germans warrants a starting place in his side’s final group game.
“I’ve been praised for my performance against Germany, where I came in and made a difference, although I did not score,” added the striker, who will have a two-week holiday before linking up with the Cardiff squad ahead of their pre-season campaign.
“I am very critical of myself if I do not score, but there was a lot that went on offensively for our team when I came in.”