When Ryan Wintle strode out at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday with the captain's arm band around his left bicep, it must have represented a pretty sweet moment for him.
It is some turnaround for a player who started 2022 on loan with Championship rivals Blackpool, having been sent out immediately at the beginning of the campaign following his free transfer from Crewe Alexandra 12 months ago.
It made the decision to hand him to the Seasiders look utterly bizarre, with Mick McCarthy having started the season with Marlon Pack and Leandro Bacuna as two nailed-on starters, with Sam Bowen seemingly keeping Wintle out of the picture.
