Tomlin plays down talk of injury setback

CARDIFF City star Lee Tomlin used Twitter to deny he had suffered an injury setback after being omitted from both the senior and under-23s squads this week.

The Bluebirds’ reigning player of the season (right) has missed the vast majority of this season after it was decided back in October he would undergo surgery to remedy a chronic groin issue.

It was a big decision, considering how important a player he is to Cardiff City, but one which he, and the club, hopes will benefit him in the long term. The 32-year-old has been working his way back to full fitness and has turned out for Steve Morison’s under-23s in recent weeks to get some game time in his legs.

He played 45 minutes in the win over Millwall before getting 60 minutes, and a goal, under his belt in the mini derby win over Severnside rivals Bristol City last week.

It all looked to be heading in the right direction, with inclusion in the first-team squad seeming almost inevitable in the coming weeks.

However, when he missed the under-23s’ clash with Charlton Athletic on Monday, it prompted many to question whether he might even be included in the first-team squad for the Derby County clash on Tuesday night.

Indeed, Tomlin himself added fuel to that fire when on Tuesday afternoon he posted a cryptic tweet which included a photo of himself in a Cardiff City shirt alongside a football emoji.

However, when he was not included in Mick McCarthy’s match-day squad for the clash with the Rams, talk began to surface that he might have suffered a setback in his recovery.

Tomlin, though, swiftly denied that, revealing he had been ill for the last week.

“Been ill for a week, not just for 23s, but for tonight’s first-team game as well,” he wrote on Twitter.

It is testament to the embarrassment of riches McCarthy has at his disposal that Tomlin’s absence has not been missed too sorely, especially since the new manager took charge.

With Harry Wilson and Jonny Williams providing stiff competition for that No. 10 berth, Tomlin will have a job on his hands to break back into the fold when he recovers from his illness. But if anyone can do it, of course, he can.

Indeed, even Leandro Bacuna is sticking his hand up to be first choice in that position after he scored twice in the 4-0 hammering of Wayne Rooney’s Derby County.

And Tomlin once again took to social media to congratulate the Curacao international for his starring role in the win over the Rams, writing “What a player” alongside the club’s tweet of his goal. With just 12 games remaining in the season, it remains to be seen just how much involvement Tomlin has in the run-in.

Given it is highly improbable he will feature against Huddersfield Town tomorrow night, we are likely looking at some point next week for the player’s return, in some capacity at least.

The under-23s don’t play again until next Tuesday, at home to Watford, while the senior team won’t play until the following Saturday, at home against the same opposition.