SPECIAL AWARD FOR WARNOCK
from Hearts, the man who struck 10 league goals last season – despite being sidelined through injury until late October – to finish as Cardiff’s top scorer in the Championship.
And McNaughton – who made 28 appearances for the Bluebirds in all competitions during the 2012-13 promotion season – believes Zohore is more than capable of cutting the mustard in the Premier League, adding that he was not surprised by compatriot Paterson’s impact in his debut season in South Wales.
“They have to try and keep hold of everybody and keep that same squad and momentum they’ve got so they can try and take it into next season,” added the Scot.
“That’s something Huddersfield did well, they kept that momentum going into the start of the campaign and they held on in the end and picked up a few key results.
“If you’ve built something it’d be stupid to start dismantling it and building from scratch. The start of the season is going to be really important for Cardiff, so if they can get that win quickly then hopefully it’ll get the ball rolling.
“The one guy I think has got all of the attributes is Kenneth Zohore. Every time I see him he causes problems.
“I think if he gets himself back to his best, I think he’ll be a major asset. They might have a tough time keeping hold of him if he plays at his best at the top level.
“And Paterson’s been a different class. I knew he’d be a good acquisition, but to be honest, I thought he’d be playing at full-back. He’s been moved around a bit and he’s scored some really important goals over the course of the season, so he’s had a fantastic year.” NEIL Warnock was honoured with the Special Achievement Award at the League Managers’ Association awards dinner on Tuesday in London.
Warnock’s feat in taking the Bluebirds to the Premier League this season, gave him his eighth career promotion – setting a new record in the process.
The LMA Special Achievement Award came more than 30 years since his first promotion, when he led Scarborough into the Football League for the first time in their history in 1986/87.
The award, sponsored by Prostate Cancer UK, is nominated by the LMA Board and is awarded for exceptional personal achievement during the current season.
The City boss was in esteemed company, as Mancheser City’s Pep Guardiola picked up the main award – the LMA Manager of the Year trophy. Warnock had also been on the shortlist for the evening’s top prize, along with Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, Burnley’s Sean Dyche, Wolves boss Nuno Espírito Santo and Accrington Stanley’s John Coleman.
Nuno pipped the Bluebirds’ chief to the Championship award, while Shrewsbury’s Paul Hurst won the League One honour and Coleman the League Two prize. Guardiola was also the Premier League winner.