Cardiff City vs Leicester City (Ravaged Team News)

Cardiff City must ask the depleted squad to stand up and be counted with little prospect of new recruits imminently. Leicester City are the visitors for the FA Cup 4th round.

Happily, Steve McPhail is back in training following lymphoma treatment but he will not be in contention yet. With Riccy Scimeca having retired, we are short in central midfield so Joe Ledley has put off his upcoming hip operations and will play.

His partner may be Gavin Rae who is close to recovering from a hamstring injury. If Rae is deemed unfit, we are in real trouble with Sol Taiwo (virus) and Aaron Wildig (back) both unavailable. That leaves Darcy Blake or Peter Whittingham as possible alternatives.

Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra are still feeling the effects of their viral infections but will be fit to play, while Ross McCormack will be hoping to retain his place either in attack or in a wide midfield role. Josh Magennis is a long term absentee with a broken leg.

At the back, Cardiff City may be without Adam Matthews, who has a groin problem. Kevin McNaughton is also a doubt with a knee complaint so Paul Quinn and Mark Kennedy may be selected as full-backs.


For Leicester City, winger Max Gradel is available after returning from a loan at Leeds United - though the highly rated youngster has handed in a transfer request. Ashley Chambers has departed the club on loan so cannot feature.

Influential defender Bruno Berner is out with a claf strain, so Ryan McGivern will deputise.

Midfielder Stephen Clemence and Aleksandar Tunchev are long term absentees.

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