Bluebirds boss Neil still working out just how to solve a problem like Tomlin

KADEEM Harris and Rhys Healey look set to provide Cardiff City with a timely boost amid the current injury crisis plaguing the club.

Harris is yet to play for the Bluebirds this season after requiring surgery on an ankle injury he suffered during the pre-season clash with Livingston.

Healey has been out for much longer after tearing his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments during the 5-0 thrashing of Rotherham in February.

It was an injury that cruelly stunted the youngster’s development and it came just a month after he scored his debut senior goal for the club, the winner in a victory over Burton.

But those injury woes are behind the duo now as they took to the Cardiff City Stadium surface against Crystal Palace in the Professional Development League.

And they were back with a bang, with Harris wasting no time and latching onto Jamie Veale’s through ball before scoring a goal inside the opening minute of the match to put the Bluebirds youngsters 1-0 up.

Not to feel left out, Healey was on hand to turn a Cameron Coxe cross into the back of the net in the 23rd minute to put his side in a commanding position.

Harris was then replaced by a trialist just after half-time with Healey making way for Kieran Proctor in the 66th minute.

In the meantime, former Bluebirds midfielder Jordon Mutch crossed for McGregor to pull one back in the 52nd minute.

And Palace were soon level when Phillips let fly from the edge of the box, leaving Lee Camp, also returning from injury, helpless in goal.

There was more second-half misery for the development side as Palace completed the comeback. Lumeka’s low cross was deflected beyond Camp, leaving the Bluebirds 18 minutes to find a goal.

But things continued in a downward spiral as Lapado converted in the 89th minute, rounding off a 4-2 victory for Palace. THAT it took Cardiff City until the 79th minute to introduce Lee Tomlin against Reading was alarming in itself.

Despite the love Bluebirds fans clearly have for the enigmatic No.10 — and there was lots of it after his stoppage-time equaliser at the Madejski on Monday night — there is clearly a problem here.

From a possible 1,890 league minutes this season, Tomlin has played just 320. He is yet to complete 90 minutes in the league for Cardiff, despite arriving in the summer as Neil Warnock’s marquee signing.

So while Cardiff fans can bask in the warm glow of a Tomlin-inspired comeback against Reading, there are some serious questions to answer on why the talented attacking midfielder hasn’t featured more prominently.

There is no doubting Tomlin’s talent and ability to change a game in Cardiff’s favour. So why has he been used so sparingly?

Is it simply a question of match fitness?

Tomlin has had his problems this term, which have hampered his progress on the pitch.

There was the court case that hung over him for months at the start of the season. Warnock admitted it had disrupted Tomlin’s training routine, with journeys up to Leicester Magistrates’ Court for various hearings.

But after verdict was delivered — with Tomlin ordered to complete 80 hours’ community service — his schedule looked to be back on track. Yet Warnock has not been compelled to start his playmaker on a single occasion since the legal proceedings were wrapped up on November 3.

Tomlin’s last Bluebirds start came in the 3-1 win against Ipswich on October 31 when he was outstanding.

In fact, whenever he’s been given a chance on the pitch, he’s made a difference: coming on at half-time to play a pivotal role against Norwich; that 11-minute cameo at the Madejski Stadium on Monday; even when he started the games against Burton Albion, Sheffield United and Ipswich his talents looks unrivalled.

Behind closed doors clearly needs to see more. Warnock

Does it simply take Warnock to change his mind?

“Everybody’s got opinions, haven’t they? I think Tomlin knows my views on him and he’s working hard to get into my thoughts on a regular basis.”

That was Warnock’s latest answer to the Tomlin question, which keeps cropping up in press conferences.

You can’t really argue with a manager who has led his team to second in the table, defying all pundits’ predictions in the process. But if there’s one blemish on Warnock’s record this season, it’s his reticence to fit Tomlin in his team.

Why? Well, Warnock’s reasoning has invariably been that ‘you don’t change a winning team’ — there’s logic in that.

Yet with the likes of Craig Bryson and Loic Damour (not natural No.10s) getting picked ahead of Tomlin, many have scratched their heads. Some games, perhaps this weekend’s against struggling Hull City, require Tomlin’s creativity. The home clashes with Derby and Millwall certainly needed him from the start, but we only saw the former Bristol City man for 37 minutes across the two games.

Warnock’s comments last Friday show he does perhaps have faith in Tomlin, if that fitness issue can be resolved.

“Lee know he’s a matchwinner for us, but we’ve got to try and hope he can eventually start a game rather than just be a substitute. He has to work very hard at his fitness which he doesn’t find easy.

“He is working very hard and we need him.”

It seems the ball is in Tomlin’s court. Warnock is not blind to his talents.

How much impact will the fans have?

Fans have made their opinions clear on Tomlin.

For them, he’s a lovable maverick. Some have even compared him to Bluebirds legend Craig Bellamy in reference to the kind of unconventional genius he brings to the team.