These are your Cardiff City headlines on Wednesday, April 19.
Former City forward prepares to hang up his boots
Ex-Cardiff attacker Nicky Maynard is set to play his final game on Saturday after helping Macclesfield to the North West Division One league title.
Maynard, 36, made 26 appearances Cardiff City between 2012 and 2016 and featured eight times in the Bluebirds’ 2013/14 Premier League campaign.
His career spanned 11 clubs, including West Ham United, Bristol City and Newport County, as well as Cardiff.
He posted on Instagram: “As a kid growing up my dream was to be a footballer. I’m thankful to of (sic) been able to fulfill my dream and have a career that I am proud of. The teams I have played for I’m forever grateful for the opportunities you gave me to succeed.
“My team-mates of 19 years I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the dressing room and pitch with it was an honour and the friends I have made along the way, I hope I was a good team-mate on and off the pitch as I can assure you all were great for me. An environment I’m sure I’ll miss but will never forget.
“Thanks to the fans who have supported me and the ones that jeered me along the way you’ve made me a better person. To have promotions, accolades and to play in the Premier League on my CV is something I will look back on with great pride.
“I hope I have set standards for my boys to go above and beyond to succeed in whatever they wish to dream.”
“To have promotions, accolades and to play in the Premier League on my CV is something I will look back on with great pride.”
'Best squad in the league'
Sabri Lamouchi told reporters yesterday that his Cardiff side face “probably the best squad in the league in Watford” while assuring fans they will aim for maximum points.
“We will do our best to get a positive result, come back and focus immediately on Stoke City,” the Bluebirds boss said.
Watford’s biggest assets may be 21-year-old Brazilian Joao Pedro, with 11 goals and got four assists in this season’s Championship, and Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr, who scored at the reverse fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium in November.
Former City midfielder Leandro Bacuna is another familiar face in the London club’s squad.
The Hornets, now managed by Chris Wilder, spent a number of weeks in the play-off places but a run of just three wins in 15 games has left them languishing in 12th.
Robinson ruled out for rest of the season
Lamouchi has confirmed that Callum Robinson will not be able to play again this season as he recovers from a hamstring injury that he picked up in February.
“The medical department tried absolutely everything. Callum too. But he won’t be available in the next few weeks,” the Bluebirds manager said.
It means Cardiff City will play their last five league games without their topscorer, with the final fixture scheduled for May 8 against Burnley, who have already secured promotion to the Premier League.
Attacking absences
Robinson will not be the only absent attacker from the team that faces Watford tonight.
Yesterday, the club assessed the fitness of defender Jack Simpson and versatile Jaden Philogene, who has started the last nine games for Sabri Lamouchi’s relegation-threatened side.
Rubin Colwill’s nightmare shows no signs of passing with Lamouchi confirming that the Welshman has missed recent training sessions due to a problem with his hips.
The 20-year-old has started only three games in the Championship this season and dropped to Wales U21s last month after being included in Rob Page’s senior squad for the World Cup.
Relegation rivals rack up the points
Three of Cardiff’s relegation rivals added to their points tallies yesterday, raising the heat in an already blistering fight for survival.
Bottom-placed Wigan beat Stoke City 1-0 on the road, taking them to within five points of the Bluebirds although they have played two more games.
Neil Warnock’s resurgent Huddersfield took a point at the Stadium of Light while Rotherham managed an impressive 2-2 draw with league leaders Burnley.
Positive results from these sides make it even more important that Cardiff get something from their re-scheduled Rotherham tie.
Only goal difference puts Cardiff above Reading, who are sitting in the final relegation spot after a six-point deduction for breaching financial rules.
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