Bluebirds facing injury headache as Morison steps into the hot seat
THE Steve Morison era gets under way this afternoon when Cardiff City head to face Stoke City in the Potteries (3pm).
For the hosts, Wales international Joe Allen is available for the Bluebirds’ visit.
Sam Clucas remains a doubt with a quad injury and will be assessed in the build-up to the match.
Alfie Doughty, Nick Powell and Morgan Fox are all on the injury list and will miss out.
Cardiff are facing a real headache in terms of injuries for the trip to Stoke.
Tom Sang is unavailable owing to aggravating that big toe on which he had surgery during pre-season, however the midfield looks particularly sparse.
Marlon Pack is suspended for the game following his fifth booking of the season in the Middlesbrough defeat last weekend, while Joe Ralls is still struggling with a collarbone problem he sustained against Swansea City.
To compound the above, both Leandro Bacuna and Sam Bowen are major doubts for the clash at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke boss Michael O’Neill is pleased Wales ace Allen is available.
He said: “Joe [Allen] is fine. He has trained for the last two days and he will be available to face Cardiff which is great news.
“Sam [Clucas] must be regarded as a doubt and will have a fitness test but unfortunately we won’t be able to call upon Alfie [Doughty] as he has a hip injury.”
Cardiff interim boss Steve Morison is looking forward to the challenge. He said: “We are just working really, really hard to get a result at Stoke.
“You don’t go and do your Pro Licence and stuff like that because it’s not in your mindset in the future.
“I had a huge job changing the 23s’ fortunes around, changing the mindset of the club and academy and that’s what I’ve been working towards.
“I’ve managed to achieve that, I’ve made massive changes there and that’s showing in their performances. Between myself, Tom and the staff, we’ve made huge strides there. That had been my focus up until Monday afternoon. “I’m not getting carried away.” Stoke have won one of their last six league matches against Cardiff City (D3 L2), winning 2-0 in February 2020 while Cardiff are looking to win consecutive away league games against Stoke City for the first time since a run of three between 2003 and 2005.
Stoke have lost their last three league matches, more than in their other 11 games beforehand this season (2).
Cardiff, who sacked Mick McCarthy after their loss at home to Middlesbrough last week, are looking to avoid becoming the first Championship side since Rotherham to lose nine straight league matches, who did so between February and April 2017 (10).