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Cardiff City news as Lamouchi issues injury update for Sunderland clash and McCarthy exits Blackpool after Bluebirds loss

Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Saturday, April 8.

Sunderland injury update

Sabri Lamouchi is hopeful Kion Etete will be available for Cardiff's clash with Sunderland on Easter Monday. The striker missed out on the trip to Blackpool and has missed the last two matches now due to a hamstring injury.

But when asked if he thought Etete might be available for selection next time out, Lamouchi said: "Yes. The medical department are doing the best to give me Kion available for Monday. So we will check in [on Saturday] and the day after tomorrow [Sunday] and we will see. We are short in numbers, but the quality, attitude and mentality, I love to see our players fight like that."

READ MORE: Connor Wickham insists he 'had a point to prove' to Cardiff fans after 'having a stinker' following Swansea defeat

Callum O'Dowda still remains a doubt, though. Joe Ralls had to fill in at left wing-back, which he did so brilliantly, against Blackpool, and may have to on Monday, too.

"I will check him [on Saturday]," Lamouchi said of the Irishman. "I hope so. With a lot of games to play, we have to think about some players and some situations and problems."

Mick McCarthy leaves Blackpool after Cardiff defeat

Mick McCarthy has parted company with relegation rivals Blackpool after just 14 games, the latest of which was a 3-1 defeat by the Bluebirds.

McCarthy and long-term assistant Terry Connor, who were appointed in January until the end of the season, departed in the wake of Friday's 3-1 home defeat by Cardiff - the former Republic of Ireland boss' last club - which left the Seasiders seven points adrift of safety with six games to play.

A statement on the club's website said: "Blackpool Football Club can confirm Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor have both left the club by mutual consent. With results on the pitch not improving in recent weeks, the decision has been agreed by both parties that a change is needed. The club would like to thank both Mick and Terry for their efforts and wish them well for the future."

Former Millwall, Sunderland, Wolves and Ipswich manager McCarthy was drafted in as a replacement for Michael Appleton with the club having gone 10 league games without a win. He launched his reign with a 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Premier League Southampton, but managed just two victories - one of them a spectacular 6-1 demolition of QPR - and three draws in 13 Championship fixtures.

Mick McCarthy said: "After recent performances and results, I have thought long and hard and feel this is the best decision for everyone concerned with the football club. I've loved my time here and thank everyone for their support. I wish everyone well going forward."

Senior professional development lead phase coach Stephen Dobbie will take charge of the first-team for Monday's trip to Luton and the remainder of the season, assisted by Matt Blinkhorn and Steve Banks.

'Outstanding' Wickham a handful for Blackpool

Former Crystal Palace and Birmingham City striker Clinton Morrison has hailed Connor Wickham for his performance against Blackpool on Saturday. The City striker scored the first and assisted the second and third in the 3-1 win over the Seasiders and Morrison believes he was the difference between the two sides.

"This was about Connor Wickham for me. He was outstanding. He was a handful. He scored the first, made the second and the third. A big result for Cardiff," Morrison said on ITV's EFL Highlights show.

"I thought Mick McCarthy could turn it around at Blackpool. But you have to beat the teams around you otherwise, inevitably, you'll get relegated. It's an uphill task for Blackpool to stay in the division."

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