SPORT Warnock looking for a Bluebirds ‘miracle’
Marathon man Josh bids for World glory
NEIL Warnock has set his sights on the record books as he begins a “miracle” mission to take Cardiff City into the Premier League and earn an unprecedented eighth promotion.
And, as the Bluebirds open their bid for a top-flight return with a season opener at Burton today, the veteran boss has claimed he has the same gut feeling about his new-look squad as he had before taking Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers into the big time.
Only famed managers Dave Bassett, Jim Smith and the late, great Graham Taylor have managed the seven promotions Warnock currently has to his name, with the charismatic Yorkshireman able to earn a place in history should he lead Cardiff back to the Premier League.
He maintains he would need to work a miracle to make it happen, but, at the age of 68, is refusing to give up on his dream at one more shot at glory having re-shaped a squad over the summer that should see debuts for the likes of Lee Tomlin, Neil Etheridge, Danny Ward and Nathaniel MendezLaing at the Pirelli Stadium this afternoon.
And he said: “There is a just a gut feeling you have about players. When I look back at my promotions, squad-wise, they have been very similar to this one in respect of team spirit. Yes, we’ve lacked big names, we’ve lacked spending a lot of money, but we’ve had something else, an ingredient other teams haven’t had – and it’s that which helps you get where you want to be.
“We have an opportunity. My head says we should be in the bottom half and midtable would be a reasonable season, but my heart wants more than that. An eighth promotion would mean the world, and especially for the fans down here because they’ve been fantastic for me.”
Elsewhere in the EFL, Newport County could hand out as many as four debuts for summer signings when they travel to Stevenge as Michael Flynn’s side play their first League Two game since last season’s Great Escape survival act.
And, in the National League, Wrexham’s latest bid to re-join the 92 after 10 years begins with a 6,000 crowd expected at the Racecourse for the visit of Macclesfield as Dean Keates enters his first full season in charge.
Meanwhile, Swansea continue their preparations for next weekend’s Premier League opener at Southampton when they take on Serie A outfit Sampdoria at the Liberty (5.15pm), with manager Paul Clement eager to see stars pass a final audition before the real action gets under way. With doubts still surrounding the future of Gylfi Sigurdsson and who could fill his No.10 role, the Swans boss said: “We have had a good pre-season, but I don’t think we are there yet and the players have more time and opportunities to show they are ready.”
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