Out of the squad... but what does the rest of

CARDIFF City might be licking their wounds after their Premier League return began with defeat at Bournemouth, but Neil Warnock still has time to fine-tune his squad in the next couple of weeks.

The Bluebirds can only ship players out until January now, with Warnock having left out four stars from his Premier League squad of 25.

Lee Tomlin, Anthony Pilkington, Rhys Healey and Stuart O’Keefe are all ineligible to play league games for Cardiff after Kadeem Harris and Matthew Connolly were granted squad places ahead of the quartet.

Football League clubs can still sign players on loan until August 31, but the transfer window has completely closed for Premier League sides in terms of incomings.

It means Tomlin, Pilkington and company will likely be snapped up on loan by Championship sides, or move abroad to Spain, Germany, France or Italy where the transfer window remains open till the month is out.

So what’s the likely outcome for each of the wantaway Bluebirds players?

LEE TOMLIN

HE hasn’t yet joined Nottingham Forest on loan again, as many expected, but it is understood Championship and League One clubs have made enquiries for the gifted but often frustrating playmaker.

Whether Forest will renew their interest remains to be seen: there has also been speculation Birmingham City or even Tomlin’s former club Peterborough could make a loan bid. Tomlin will surely force a move through before the deadline.

His departure on loan suits all parties in truth.

ANTHONY PILKINGTON