BLUEBIRDS FORWARDS ARE STILL TO STAKE THEIR CLAIM

ANOTHER Championship fixture has passed us by and we appear to be no closer to knowing what Cardiff City’s best forward line actually is.

It’s been an inconsistent start from the Bluebirds to say the least, but they have managed to accrue seven points from their opening five games.

They’ve made hard work of both of their home wins – a 96th-minute winner against Luton Town and an 88th-minute winner against Huddersfield Town – and been far from convincing on the road, picking up just one point, against Blackburn on Saturday, in their three fixtures.

Before Saturday’s encounter, Cardiff had shipped six goals in two games away from home, but their defence was watertight when they visited Ewood Park. So was Blackburn’s.

So Cardiff looked to have sorted out their defence, but what of their attack? Joe Ralls, a central midfielder, is the club’s top goalscorer, while £5.5million summer signing Robert Glatzel is yet to open his account.

The Bluebirds have five strikers vying for a starting berth and four wingers battling it out for two spots. So who should get the nod?

We give our verdict on each of the attacking players and who should be starting across the frontline.

Will he be a 15-plus-a-season scorer? Debatable. But he certainly looks to have all the attributes to be a hit in this league. He just needs a goal.

Announced himself to the Cardiff faithful with a dramatic injury-time winner against Luton just minutes into his Bluebirds career.

Looked sharp during that stint, but when he was introduced against Reading at half-time he was relatively ineffective. He looks vibrant, though, and is the type of player who could pop up with a goal at any time.

Do Cardiff play the type of football that will get the best out of him? The jury is still out on that one. Even though his goal was a header, you get the sense he would thrive when playing on the shoulder of the defence and causing havoc in behind.

Will he get a run tomorrow night in the Carabao Cup? Time will tell, but he looks to be completely out of favour at the moment and miles off the starting XI.

Looked destined to be one of the casualties this summer, but after impressing in pre-season and netting on the opening day of the season, a well-taken goal against Wigan, his stock has risen. Indeed he looks to be leading the race to be Glatzel’s backup and was the preferred option off the bench ahead of Vassell against both Huddersfield and Blackburn.

Will Neil Warnock opt for two up top from the start at some point this season? Who knows, but Bogle and Glatzel appear to be a great match and could complement each other extremely well.

Another who has fallen victim to the two new arrivals up front. Warnock placed his trust in Madine on the opening day of the season, but that fixture was just another to add to the list of games in which he has not scored in a Cardiff City shirt.

The striker has now played 20 games for the Bluebirds and has not found the net in any of them. He looks to be duelling with Ward for that fifth spot in the striker ranks.

On his day, the most exciting winger in the league. On his off day, the most frustrating talent in tier one.

His dazzling feet and jet-heeled boots can be a nightmare for any defender, if only he was more clinical with his end product – against Luton this was most evident, missing three really good opportunities in the opening few minutes. He would love to add more goals to his game.

One thing is for sure, though, you’d rather see him in your team running