Can Freddie finally fire after tough first term?
CARDIFF City are not yet giving up on Frederic Gounongbe, despite an anonymous first year with the Bluebirds, writes Chris Wathan.
And it’s emerged the striker has spent most of the secondhalf of the season recovering from injury having been absent for large parts of Neil Warnock’s reign.
Gounongbe has been a huge disappointment since arriving from Belgium football last summer and being immediately handed the club’s No.9 shirt.
Signed on a Bosman from Westerlo having hit a goal every other game in the Jupiler League, he was unveiled as one of Paul Trollope’s first signings with the Benin international backed to add to the Bluebirds’ firepower.
Yet he started just three games in his first season in South Wales – failing to complete 90 minutes in any of them – while he failed to seize his chance when Neil Warnock replaced the axed Trollope.
After no goals and little impact, Gounongbe went missing from matchday squads after February with the 29-year-old’s future looking in doubt less than 12 months into a two-year-deal.
But it appears the frontman suffered a pelvic injury and underwent surgery which ruled him out of any comeback under Warnock in the second-half of the last campaign.
And now the Bluebirds boss is expecting him back in pre-season with the hope that the 6ft 3in forward can show he could still form part of future plans under the veteran chief. Gounongbe started the season as first-choice striker but suffered the ignominy of missing an open goal from yards out on his debut at Birmingham. He failed to recover, though did earn praise from Warnock for his response in training which eventually earned him a start against Brighton.
He failed to take his chance before injury hit and was not seen after being an unnamed substitute in the home defeat to Norwich in February.
Yet it now transpires Gounongbe required surgery and has been told to return for pre-season ready to prove his worth. Kenneth Zohore has shown the way in terms of grasping chances under Warnock having been close to the exit door at one stage. And Warnock has previously described Gounongbe as being the side’s best finisher in training, though added he needed to up his work rate if he wanted to be successful.
It’s unlikely he would force out Zohore in Warnock’s side while it is expected that Cardiff – who also still have Rickie Lamber on the books after his own injuryplagued season – will look to bring in extra firepower this summer. Warnock has assessed his squad and has told players they will be surplus to requirements, with winger Craig Noone among those told to try and find a move this summer.
But it appears Gounongbe is not yet among those numbers, though he will not be able to waste much time in making an impact upon his return.