Steve Tucker, Western Mail
Cardiff City look to loan market againCARDIFF CITY manager Dave Jones is ready to delve back into the loan market again to bring in a replacement for injured striker Michael Chopra.
Chopra is out for the season after tearing a hamstring in the Bluebirds’ 2-2 draw with Barnsley last weekend and Jones admitted the striker’s absence was a ‘big blow.’
With nine games of the Championship season left, Cardiff travel to Millwall today desperate to get back to wining ways after taking just one point from the last nine on offer.
But they will need to do it without Chopra, who had found the net 11 times during the campaign.
“I think it speaks for itself how much of a blow Michael’s injury is. It is a major setback for us because he’s a big player at this football club,” said Jones.
“But we can switch and change. Don’t forget at that start of the season we didn’t have Michael. We lost him after one game.
“So it gives opportunity for others and it’s up to the others to take it.”
Jones has until the loan window closes on Thursday to bring in a new player, but is already over the limit on the number of loan players he can currently name in his match-day squad.
The Bluebirds have six loanees, despite Aaron Ramsey returning to Arsenal last month, and only five are permitted.
Jones also admitted he was unsure which front man was available at the moment who would bolster the quality of his current goalscoring options.
“It is something we will look at. It’s something we are trying, but who do you bring in?” said Jones.
“We have loan players in. We are at our quota of being able to play, actually one more than what we can actually play.
“You just can’t go out and say, ‘this is what we want and let’s have them.’ It doesn’t work that way.
“We got Ramsey, who was called back. That was a disappointment for us. But that’s what happens in the loan system.
“We’ll use and we’ll try to use it and if we can get one in then we will do.”
Apart from Chopra, Jones has virtually a full squad to chose from with Jason Koumas and full-back Lee Naylor back in training following injury.
Although goalkeeper Tom Heaton is still absent with his groin injury and Jones said he would be assessed again after the upcoming international break.
Stephen Bywater, on loan from Derby, will deputise between the sticks once more against the Lions today.
Also of concern to Jones is the form of star striker Jay Bothroyd.
The 28-year-old remains the Bluebirds’ top scorer with 17 strikes, but has only scored twice since he was called up for England back in November.
Indeed, if Bothroyd fails to register today it will be 10 league games without a goal, his most barren spell since arriving at the club in August 2008.
“Jay needs to score and work harder to put ball in net, it’s as simple as that,” said Jones.
“He’s getting frustrated. but he’s the leading scorer in the club and we are hoping he will come good.
“But his general game must keep going just like everybody else here.”
Jones admitted he had been stung by criticism of his side over recent weeks.
With defeats to Ipswich and Crystal Place and a disappointing draw at home to Barnsley in their last three outings, Cardiff have been faltering, but are still well placed in the promotion hunt.
Their cause has been helped by the fact that, with the exception of table -toppers QPR, their promotion rivals have also been dropping points.
“This club gets knocked from pillar to post. We lose a game, it’s end of the world. We just have to keep going and remain strong and stop listening to experts,” said Jones.
“Forget the ones who know what should be done. I’ve done it a few times and these are nervous times, you can see that.
“It seems everybody is having a blip at the moment and we are getting to that stage of the season.
“We are still in there. We are still in with a very, very good shout of an automatic promotion place and while that’s still there you keep chasing it.
“Are we playing well? No. We are concerned that we haven’t scored goals. Are we still within a good shout of it? Yes. So you keep working away, but everybody looks for a problem.
“We are hanging in there like everybody else is, and they are fighting, and these players will fight right to the end.”
Skipper Craig Bellamy will face Millwall today after a charge of misconduct from Cardiff’s draw with Reading last month was found unproven by the FAW.
The club was fined £5,000 for failing to control its players when a fracas broke out in the tunnel after the game at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Reading had previously been fined £40,000 for two charges of failing to control their players and Mikele Leigertwood banned for three games after admitting a charge of violent conduct.
Those matters were dealt with by the FA, who deal with all disciplinary matters regarding English clubs.
After the ruling Royals’ manager and former Cardiff midfielder Brian McDermott was critical of the decision and said he believed clubs in the same division should be governed by the same body.
But Jones hit back at McDermott’s comments.
“Reading were already on a charge. they forget that and we asked for a hearing and they didn’t,” said Jones.
“We had a video of the tunnel incident and there was nothing there.
“Their player was suspended for what he did, that was clear and it was dealt with.
“I would have contested the fine we had if it was down to me, but we accepted that there was a melee and took our punishment.”
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