Tomlin’s back, but can he become the creative force for the Bluebirds?
FIRST one fan stood up, then another, then a dozen more, then thousands. It was arguably the loudest cheer of the night – and it wasn’t for Junior Hoilett’s 88th-minute winner.
Swathes of Cardiff City supporters stood to attention and applauded as Lee Tomlin walked off the field in the 77th minute against Huddersfield on Wednesday night and it was no less than he deserved.
For, given the circumstances of his return, he turned out an immensely impressive display, even the most fervent detractors would agree, albeit perhaps through gritted teeth.
He shook Neil Warnock’s hand, then Kevin Blackwell’s, before turning to the Canton Stand and bowing to their demands with an Ayatollah.
That moment summed up not only what those 77 minutes meant for the fans, but Tomlin himself.
Because, as Warnock will attest, it is highly unlikely he would have featured were it not for the countless casualties currently occupying the physio’s bench at the club’s Vale HQ.
But even the manager was effusive in his praise of the player after the game.
Tomlin terrorised the Terriers and they were rattled – he unlocked their defence with reverse passes, arrowlike cross-field balls and a deadly set-piece.
There was a deftness of touch and a surprising, unerring confidence for a man who hadn’t donned a Cardiff City shirt in a competitive match since January last year.
His interplay with Robert Glatzel was cause for much optimism, while Joe Ralls and Josh Murphy would doubtless have enjoyed playing alongside a man with Tomlin’s guile and cunning.
Let’s apply some perspective, though. Of course, he does not have the brilliance of Gazza, Cantona or the other world-class mercurial talents of a bygone era, but there is an undeniably alluring mystique about him which radiates from him and the fans respond.
His vexed situation has been well documented in recent months.
The 30-year-old was candid in an interview with the Daily Mail and recanted with admirable veracity his
mental health struggles and the dark thoughts that consumed him at times last year.
But, this summer, his mojo was back. The playmaker had shed 13kg – around two stone – in a bid to force his way back into Warnock’s team and fans were sent into hysteria with the thought of having him fit and firing this term.
A bout of gastroenteritis temporarily curtailed that excitement, but when Warnock’s pre-match programme notes were published ahead of Wednesday’s game, social media was sent into a small frenzy.
“We’ve a few lads playing tonight who have a point to prove,” he wrote. “Some of them were knocking on my door a few weeks back asking for a chance in the team and now they’ll have it.
“It’s up to them to take full advantage of that tonight and put in a good showing for the shirt.”
It’s fair to say, Tomlin did just that. Of course, in many cases, players’ stocks can rise without playing a minute of football and the surprise exit of Bobby Reid certainly did that for Tomlin.
Fans were yearning for his return in hope of reigniting the creative spark that has been missing during this inconsistent start to the season and Tomlin provided that in spades against Huddersfield.
Warnock’s comments after the game perhaps poured a little cold water over the optimism, however.
Perhaps it was a little bit of posturing and misdirection to throw the opposition off scent.
“The way he’s trained, he’s not going to be there every week because I really don’t think he could sustain that,” he said.
“But for an hour here and there he gives us another option, especially at home.”
The player obviously has to work his way back to match fitness and Warnock will certainly apply caution when considering his workload over the coming weeks.
But the magic in Tomlin’s boots has finally created a buzz among Cardiff fans and they will hope it provides the catalyst for better things to come.