Hoilett is doubt for clash with the Lions
JUNIOR Hoilett is touch and go for Cardiff City’s clash with Millwall today as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
The Bluebirds winger was taken off just after the 20-minute mark in the defeat at Brentford, having shown some promising form in the early portion of Neil Harris’s tenure as manager.
He was absent for both the trip to Leeds and the goalless draw with Preston North End last weekend, however Harris has confirmed the Canada international is back in full training and could well be in contention for this afternoon’s crucial clash against Harris’s former side.
Elsewhere, Joe Bennett, who had been an ever-present in this Cardiff City team this season until last weekend, is also a doubt.
The left back was this week still recovering from an Achilles problem which kept him sidelined for this
CARDIFF CITY STADIUM
CARDIFF v MILLWALL
first time this season against Preston. It is unknown whether today will be too soon for him.
In his stead, meanwhile, Jazz Richards was handed his first league start in almost two years and has come through that 90 minutes unscathed.
Harris deliberately left him on for the full 90 minutes in order for him to get those vital minutes into his legs as he looks to bring him up to full match sharpness amid a packed festive fixture schedule.
“It’s been a while since he’s played 90 minutes and had a run of games,” Harris said of Richards.
“Expecting him to get up and go for a 10-mile job, he won’t even be on the radar.
“Mentally, for him, it was good for him to get through the 90 minutes. I could have taken him off to protect him but I wanted to leave him out there and come in with a clean sheet.”
As expected, Joe Bennett is likely to be out for a number of games, with Harris aiming for the South Wales derby with Swansea City as a possible return date.
Isaac Vassell and Matthew Connolly will also continue to be absent owing to their long-term injuries.
Harris, meanwhile, admitted his displeasure at hearing Josh Murphy jeered off the field against Preston, but believes the onus is on the player to show exactly what he is capable of.
Murphy was hooked on the hour last Saturday and replaced by Danny Ward, only for some Cardiff supporters to cheer the winger’s exit.
It caused quite the controversy among the Bluebirds’ fan base, with some having lost patience with Murphy and others believing players should be backed unconditionally through a poor run of form.
While Harris believes Murphy, still just 24, has an abundance of potential waiting to be unlocked, he understood the fans venting their frustration.
“It’s never nice for an individual player or for us as a group,” Harris said of the reaction to Murphy’s substitution on the weekend.
“You want everyone to be happy and loved and that feeling that everyone is there together.
“But I also understand it from a fans’ perspective what they want to see from their players.
“Murphy is a really good player, as we know. He’s come with a huge price tag and I’ve not seen the best of him in my five weeks in charge.
“Before that, I can’t really speak about, but I’ll take it from the reaction that the fans haven’t seen the best of him either. It’s down to me to get the best out of him and nurture that talent.”