Article: Steve Garland
Jay Bothroyd quashed rumours linking him with a move to Aston Villa today insisting that he remained 'Happy and fully committed to Cardiff' prior to Tuesday nights FA Cup third-round replay with Bristol City.
Having overcome the worst of a viral infection he had been suffering with over the last couple of weeks, a hoarse Bothroyd said: "Obviously you are flattered when you get linked with other clubs, especially of the likes of Aston Villa, but I am fully committed to Cardiff and just want to concentrate on doing well for them. It's an honour to be linked with them, but I am a professional and need to put that to the back of my mind and play well for Cardiff. I really want to get this club promotion and achieve what I set out to do when I first came here."
Asked whether he felt he owed something to the club having signed for the Bluebirds after a difficult period in his career, Jay responded: "Definitely. The manager, coaching staff and all the fans have been terrific and I love being at Cardiff and love the club.
"I do owe the club and the manager a lot and my football has flourished since I joined the club. I had a tough time at Wolves where I didn't enjoy my football or training at all and to come here and be involved in the set up now and love turning up to training everyday, thats why I am here at 8am!"
Speaking about the second Severnside derby in a week, Bothroyd said: "Obviously every game is important and we want to win every game we play in, but we want to get promotion more than anything else. I'd love to be a part of history with this club and get it into the Premiership.
"The FA Cup is special and has plenty of history surrounding it but myself and my piers are concentrating on the league more than anything, but obviously it would be nice to have a good cup run as well. It is hard to dismiss the FA Cup as it is a superb competition and it is an opportunity to get silverware but ultimately we want to be playing at the highest level week in week out and mixing it with the big boys. Then again we have Bristol City, which we look at as a team we can beat and should beat so hopefully we can do that tomorrow."
It's a game Bothroyd hopes to be fit for having overcome the worst of a viral infection that has been lingering over the squad in recent weeks, saying: "I feel much better now, still have a little bit of a cough but I think my temperature was up to about 105 at one point and was really struggling. But I am fine now and am looking forward to the game.
"I was disappointed to have missed two games," Jay added, but confirmed spirit was still high amongst the squad despite the illness going around: "Even on Saturday me and some of the boys were heaving before the game, it has been a tough time for us.
"But the team spirit has been great and morale is still high and even the banter has still been flying about. Were obviously disappointed that this illness has come about but that's football and that's life."
