McCarthy plays down more buys for Cardiff

MICK McCarthy has seemingly ruled out the possibility of his side making further additions this summer – but insists he’s happy with the quality at his disposal ahead of the new season.

Cardiff have already bought Ryan Wintle, Mark McGuiness, James Collins and, most recently, Ryan Giles, this summer, all of whom were handed a run out, and largely impressed, during the second of two 60-minute pre-season clashes with Cambridge United yesterday.

McCarthy admits there’s a long way to go before his squad is ready before the new season, but seems ready to work with his current squad.

Asked about the possibility of further additions, McCarthy said: “We’re not going to get any new faces in, to be honest with you.

“I can’t see that happening. “But when everybody’s fit, when we’ve got all our centrebacks fit, our wing-backs fit, with Tom Sang, Perry Ng. We’ve got five or six midfield players, Leandro Bacuna, needs to come back.

“Lee Tomlin’s been playing and I thought he did well in the game. Then there’s Isaac Vassell, who’s not played for two years, he’s coming back. He needs to get the fitness first, the football will come.

“Josh Murphy’s been off, we need to get him back, Kieffer back, Rubin back, and that will assist us.

“I think when we’ve got everybody back, I think we’ve got a good squad.”

One man that may well feel like a new signing ahead of the upcoming season is Vassell, who played out 40 minutes of the first clash against the U’s before being replaced by youngster Chanka Zimba, a move that was always part of the plan to help bring the striker back up to full fitness.

“The plan was for him to play 45 minutes,” McCarthy added.

“He came off at 40 because he was starting to struggle with his fitness and I didn’t want him to get injured.”

After so long on the sidelines, both Vassell and Tomlin are set for a potentially big season for the Bluebirds, but the City boss insists there’s still a long road ahead before either of them will be ready for the demands of a new Championship season.

“Neither of them are back at the level where they could do 90 minutes in the Championship, but they’re getting there and they’re trying their hardest. They’re working at it and that’s what I’m impressed with.”