Cardiff City's squad is in far ruder health now than it was at the start of 2022, make no mistake about that.
The five January loan signings, plus the fantastic impact of the recalled Ryan Wintle, has transformed this squad into a far better equipped Championship outfit and Cardiff are reaping the rewards.
On Tuesday night, Cardiff were able to field an admirably strong matchday squad of 18, with Sean Morrison, Alife Doughty, Rubin Colwill, James Collins and Leandro Bacuna not even included, for one reason or another.
In truth, the January arrivals have set the benchmark for what fans will now come to expect when the summer overhaul takes place. It will be a mammoth task to almost totally rebuild this squad, but it also represents a potentially huge and exciting opportunity.
Steve Morison said people at the club told him it was the best transfer window they have seen and while that statement in itself has prompted debate among supporters, there is nothing to suggest it was anything other than a success.
Cody Drameh looks a cut above in that right-back role. He has added pace and quality going forward and is defensively sound enough to ensure opposing wingers have concerns when thinking about coming the other way.
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The Leeds United loanee has arguably been the most impressive and consistent of the lot and it would be astonishing if he is not plying his trade in the Premier League next season.
Tommy Doyle, from Manchester City, looks a serious footballer, too. While technically excellent with the ball at his feet, his work off the ball is fantastic. He tirelessly hounds the opposition and covers the ground deceptively quickly. He is, in fact, the perfect person for Colwill to learn from.
Jordan Hugill has proven just why clubs in the Premier League have wanted to sign him down the years. He uses his body so well and has showcased a clinical edge in front of goal since joining the club last month.
Hugill's arrival from Norwich City also helped to assuage the loss of Kieffer Moore to Bournemouth. The forward has the bit between his teeth and is thriving off being the main man at Cardiff City Stadium at the minute.
And Uche Ikpeazu has quickly endeared himself to City fans, too. The Middlesbrough loanee has bulldozed his way through a couple of defences to pick up two goals since his move and supporters can't wait to see more of him going forward.
It has driven up competition within the squad, of that there is no doubt. Mark Harris on Tuesday even said the battle for places up front is keeping everyone on their toes
“There’s a lot of competition up top for a place in the side, so you can’t take your foot off the pedal," Harris said after scoring in the 2-0 win over Coventry City.
"You’ve got to show what you can do every day in training, then taking the opportunity when you get it with both hands.
“It’s a group of good lads that we’ve got in the squad, including those who came in last month. We’re all pushing each other on in training and on the pitch, it’s healthy for us and good for the team."
Morison now has Hugill, Ikpeazu, Max Watters, Isaak Davies, James Collins and Harris from which to choose and that can only mean standards are being driven up on the training ground.
Doughty must not be forgotten, either. The Stoke City man looked a shrewd acquisition in his first two outings against Nottingham Forest and Barnsley, before a nasty challenge up at Oakwell left him with damaged ankle ligaments.
But Doughty's arrival has also seemingly lit the fuse beneath Joel Bagan, who has been playing out of his skin since the former's injury at Barnsley.
Bagan has turned out two man-of-the-match performances on the bounce for the Bluebirds and long may that continue. He was thrown into the deep end at the start of the season, with no competition for his position or scope for change, and his form suffered. Now, having had to bide his time behind Ryan Giles and Doughty, Bagan has had more time to learn his trade and looks a much better player for it.
Once Cardiff's status as a Championship side is officially consolidated, which mustn't be far away now thanks to four wins in five league matches, planning can then start for next season.
As things stand, those five loan signings go back to their parent clubs and a further 10 first-team players will leave the Welsh capital city outfit upon the expiry of their contracts.
That is a gargantuan hole to fill, but if the results of the January window are anything to go by then there should be excitement heading into the summer.
There will be big wages chopped but lots of experience lost, a balance which must be struck during the summer recruitment drive.
But the direction in which this Cardiff side are moving serves as cause for optimism. Should Morison get the job, he will get to recruit a players who can better carry out the brand of football he is looking to play, which is far more in tune with the successful Championship clubs of recent history.
Cardiff aren't the finished article just yet, of course, but perhaps an overhaul in playing personnel can aid that transition into an even better footballing side.
Make no mistake, there will be little funds available for a summer rebuild. Cardiff will have to be as shrewd and cost effective in the summer as they were in January, but on a far grander scale.
They will utilise the loan market once again, something which has proven to be successful in recent weeks, while the free agent list will be given some serious scrutiny in recruitment meetings.
Gone are the days of big transfer fees and lengthy, expensive contracts. Cardiff are going to have to be far more efficient in their dealings but they appear better equipped to do now than they did in the summer.
Cardiff wowed Premier League clubs such as Leeds United and Manchester City with stellar recruitment presentations and their analysts and backroom staff will have to be at the top of their game this summer once again.
But fans are rightly excited about what could come in the summer owing to the standards which have been set by the crop of January recruits and rightly so.
If the Bluebirds can conduct a similarly-successful window in the off-season, albeit it will have to be on a far broader scale, then there is genuine hope for a more successful campaign next year.
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