Warnock hits out at ‘scandalous’ planning over Bacuna

LEANDRO Bacuna is a doubt for Cardiff City’s game with Derby County after ‘scandalous’ planning from Curacao.

The midfielder, who played against Haiti on Tuesday in the Concacaf Nations League, was due back in the UK yesterday, a little over 24 hours before the game, and will fly straight into East Midlands Airport.

Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock was furious with how poorly planned his journey has been and, given the player will not have time to meet up or train with the squad, revealed that Bacuna might be a doubt for tonight’s clash with Derby County.

What makes it doubly cruel for Warnock is that Wales boss Ryan Giggs afforded Rams forward Tom Lawrence a rest for the friendly against Belarus on Monday.

It means now that Lawrence is primed for the visit of Cardiff, while Bacuna might not be ready to feature in the starting line-up.

Warnock said yesterday: “The international players – Leandro Bacuna is not even flying back until this afternoon.

“It’s scandalous really how countries can get away with things like that.

“I know we have got to do it for television because of the finance but Friday night after an international break doesn’t help us when they are going all over the world.

“You need a manager like Ryan Giggs who says he is not going to play Lawrence in a friendly on the Monday because he has got a big game on the Friday.

“Unfortunately that’s against us. We need a manager like him with all our players. It’s not been easy at all – it’s been horrendous really.”

It means now that Will Vaulks, who played only a handful of minutes for Wales against Belarus, is more than likely to fill the void which could be left by Bacuna, who has been a regular for the Bluebirds this season, in the heart of midfield.

Junior Hoilett has also emerged as a doubt for Friday’s game owing to personal issues.

Warnock also revealed that while some of the longer-term injuries such as Marlon Pack, Neil Etheridge and Sol Bamba have progressed well during the international break, there have also been some setbacks for others.

“Matt Connolly has had an operation on his ankle to clear it out.

“He just couldn’t get it right so they thought they better give it one last shot.

“Jazz Richards has picked up another knock.

“He is so unlucky – just a challenge with Aden Flint.

“He has a swollen ankle. It’s been a bit like Casualty.”