MALKY: CRAIG & HUDS ARE BACK

Club News

Malky Mackay was the bearer of good news on Monday morning with the announcement that both Captain and Talisman - Mark Hudson and Craig Bellamy - were back in contention to face Leicester.

“Craig and Mark should come back into the squad for tomorrow night,” said the Boss. “They are two of our most experienced players, two of our most consistent players, so we are delighted to get them back involved again tomorrow night."

And when asked specifically about the worth of City's skipper Hudson, Malky replied: “Mark is our captain and he’s been very consistent ever since I’ve been with the Football Club.

"He had, what some would suggest, was a tough time for a period here, but I can only speak for the time I’ve been manager and he’s been immaculate as a professional. He’s been someone that has lead from the front but also someone I am proud to say is captain of Cardiff City. On and off the field he’s represented this Football Club very well, but on the field it’s his consistency that we hope to have back.

“If you look back at the Carling Cup final, Mark hadn’t trained for three weeks leading up to it and we put him in and he was immense and lasted a hundred and fifteen minutes before we had to drag him off. That’s the type of guy I want in and around the team.”

Although confidence will be at its highest with Bellamy and Hudson restored to the line-up, Malky doesn’t underestimate the threat posed by the visiting Foxes on Tuesday evening.

“A couple of results haven’t gone their way recently, but I’m very focused on what Leicester are and who Leicester are," the Gaffer continued.

"They’ve got an experienced manager in Nigel Pearson, who's a good guy and someone who a couple of weeks ago destroyed Blackburn. They’ve had a couple of sticky results, like all of us but they’ve got real match winners in their team." 

And with the international break and the British showdown between Scotland and Wales just around the corner, Malky addressed the possibility of Cardiff City’s number 1 David Marshall facing the Welsh national team for his country.

“David is ready to face Wales absolutely,” Malky stated.  “He’s been at the peak of his game and he’s worked really hard. He is someone I’ve known for a long time and someone who from a far I’ve viewed as a good goalkeeper.

“I think he’s currently the best goalkeeper in the Championship, as I've said before. One of the targets I set him was to get back into that Scotland squad; I felt it was absolutely something he could achieve and get back onto the pitch and get capped again. I’d be delighted if he gets selected against Scotland next week.”