Cardiff City fans have been hit with a mixture of good and bad news ahead of the upcoming fixture against Sunderland. The Bluebirds will be without star player Andy Rinomhota due to a hamstring injury sustained during the recent match against Burnley. Rinomhota’s absence is a blow to the team, but there is a silver lining as Leicester loanee Will Alves is set to make a return after missing the last three games due to an injury. Cardiff City manager Omer Riza provided an update on the team’s injury situation, confirming that several players are on their way back to full fitness. Dave Turnbull and Jesper Daland are making progress, while Yakou Meite and Joe Ralls are undergoing individual training sessions with the strength and conditioning coaches.
In a separate development, Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick has undergone surgery and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. Alnwick sustained a hamstring injury during the match against Plymouth and played on despite the discomfort. Ethan Horvath has stepped in as the new first-choice goalkeeper and has put in commendable performances in Alnwick’s absence. Alnwick took to social media to thank supporters for their messages of encouragement and expressed his determination to return stronger next season.
Meanwhile, Sunderland has been dealt a fresh injury blow with the news that Ian Poveda will be sidelined due to a new injury. Poveda missed the recent match against Sheffield Wednesday after picking up the injury in training. Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris confirmed that Poveda’s recovery timeline is uncertain, but initial indications suggest he could be out of action for around a month. Poveda joins a growing list of injured Sunderland players, including Enzo Le Fée, Dan Ballard, Ahmed Abdullahi, Aji Alese, and Niall Huggins.
Burnley manager Scott Parker had words of praise for Cardiff City despite Burnley’s 2-1 victory at the Cardiff City Stadium. Parker commended Cardiff’s performance and stated that the team is in a better position than their league standing suggests. Despite the loss, Parker acknowledged Cardiff’s strengths and resilience, highlighting the challenging nature of playing against the Bluebirds. Cardiff remains focused on improving their position in the Championship table and will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
As Cardiff City prepares for their next match against Sunderland, the team faces a mix of setbacks and positives on the injury front. While Rinomhota’s absence is a setback, the return of key players like Will Alves provides a glimmer of hope for the Bluebirds. Manager Omer Riza remains optimistic about the team’s prospects and is working towards getting the squad back to full strength for the challenges ahead. Cardiff fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on the injured players’ progress as the team strives to finish the season on a high note.