Lieutenant Helguson Set For Cardiff City Action

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has moved to dispel any thoughts of veteran striker Heidar Helguson taking a backseat for the remainder of our promotion-chasing season. Helguson has been left out in recent games with youngsters Rudy Gestede and Joe Mason becoming more prominent.

That move appears to make sense with Helguson's age - he cannot be expected to contribute at his best over an entire season. However, he was not restored to the line-up even after a lengthy rest and illness to Craig Bellamy. Joe Mason led the line, supported by Tommy Smith at Blackpool. That, plus the recent arrival of Fraizer Campbell suggested Helguson may not be such an important figure.


However, Mackay has rejected that assertion outright, telling WalesOnline:

"Heidar will have a huge part to play throughout the last 18 games of our season. [He's] one of my trusted lieutenants. I place a lot of faith in him. For me he has been incredible since he got here."

"He`s been consistently successful throughout his whole career. He`s a huge part of everything that is going on at this football club right now."

"The reason Heidar has been out of the side recently has been a bit of everything really. It`s been a bit of tactics, he`s had a tight calf for a couple of weeks so we`ve had to be a bit cautious about playing him."


Helguson is a good foil for Bellamy, while he also works well with Joe Mason. I think we can be fairly confident that his experience and ability will see him form a good understanding with Fraizer Campbell. With Campbell included, the frontline looks much stronger and each will have to contend with squad rotation.

I was very pleased to sign Helguson, seeing him as the effective battler with experience of promotion we needed. Since joining, however, Hulguson has shown himself to be more than that with some very impressive contributions - often selfless in the team's cause. Malky clearly feels similarly and his comments suggest Helguson will be back in the starting line-up very soon.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.