There has been a noticeable difference this year in the emphasis which has been placed on Cardiff City's youth.
Rewind 12 months and all eyes were on the under-23s, trying to pick which of the next crop was going to sprout through and challenge the establishment for a first-team appearance. The likes of Isaak Davies, Chanka Zimba, Kieron Evans and Oliver Denham were all banging on the door.
It's all been a little quiet on that front this term, though. Perhaps because there have been fewer standout performers. Maybe it's because Steve Morison's all-conquering under-23s side last year drew more eyeballs as they surged to the top of the Professional Development League 2 South table.
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It's been more of a mixed start for Darren Purse's crop of under-21s this season after a summer which, like the first team, needed some heavy recruitment. Results aren't everything at that level, of course, but they certainly help to elevate the murmur to a buzz among supporters.
However, while it might not seem like there has been as much emphasis this time around, ahead of Mark Hudson's meeting with the Cardiff City board next week, he insists they are all on the same page when it comes to the importance of developing first-team players from within.
"We have got an understand of what it looks like going forward. We have still got a pathway for our young players, which is absolutely something we believe in," Hudson said.
"The young players are pushing, they want to be involved with the first team. We have got a route and a plan, individually, for every player, which is great. We know how that process works.
"We have got the likes of Kingy (Eli King) on loan, doing well with Crewe, (Kieron) Evans is away doing well [at Torquay], Chanks (Chanka Zimba) is maybe suffering a little bit for game-time [at Newport County]. But we have got a plan for each individual."
A couple of City's academy players have earned plaudits from the ardent followers of the under-21s. James Crole's goalscoring record at that level has been consistently impressive, Jack Leahy has his admirers, too, especially after scoring a certified stunner to beat Swansea City in the mini-South Wales derby. Others such as central midfielder Cameron Antwi and defender and captain Xavier Benjamin have come in for praise, too.
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However, the one standout many fans would point to has been Rubin Colwill's younger brother, Joel, who stepped up to play some first-team pre-season friendlies under Morison this summer and did not look out of place.
The powerful central midfielder, who only turned 18 last week, is certainly catching the eye of the first-team manager, anyway.
"We have obviously got Rubin's younger brother coming through, he looks good! He has done well. He is another good character," Hudson said of the younger Colwill.
"With young players, you have got to treat them in terms of how they are doing in the team and how they are doing across a period of time.
"We know that when you are trying to break through there are peaks and troughs with the development. You have growths, we are still taking about Rubin's growth, you can see it can continue for quite a long period of time."
While Cardiff have utilised the loan system for some of their younger players this season, they have had a mixed success rate. Kieron Evans has caught the eye on occasion for non-League Torquay, Zimba has played a bit-part at Newport, however Eli King has enjoyed real success at Crewe.
He has started eight of the 10 League Two games he has played for Crewe and has become an important player for the club this season. He has earned plaudits for his role in a defensive-midfield role, but would have serious competition at Cardiff at the minute, with Joe Ralls, Ryan Wintle, Andy Rinomhota, Romaine Sawyers and the returning Ebou Adams all already vying for spots in the heart of midfield.
It seems the plan is to allow King to play out the season at Crewe, get minutes into the legs and then be ready to make an impact for the Bluebirds on the 2023/24 campaign.
"If we focus on Kingy, for instance, he is away doing well with Crewe," Hudson said. "It has been a great loan and experience for him already. Sometimes it may be better to go out and get a loan, get that development and come back, or sometimes maybe staying in the building and progressing throughout is better. It's something we talk about regularly.
"We have spoken about Kingy playing a full season where he is, learning about playing regularly, maybe missing a few games and then trying to fight your way back into a team, it's really important.
"He's been good so far, but it's about getting a block of games in, learning what different managers want from you, playing in different positions in the league. We speak to Kingy and his representatives regularly.
"It's something we are all on the same page with."
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