Cardiff City are short on striking options after losing three in quick succession



Michael Chopra has returned from his loan spell back to Sunderland where he will be scrutinised by new boss Rick Sbragia and winger Wayne Routledge snubbed Cardiff after his loan spell to sign permanently for Queens Park Rangers, further diminshing Cardiff's attacking threat.

Compounding these moves, striker Eddie Johnson is still absent in the USA due to a family illness.

"There was a problem with a member of his family falling ill," manager Dave Jones told WalesOnline. "But we are hoping everything is fine and Eddie will be back with us quickly. He has stayed in contact with us and I told him to delay his return until everything is fine with his family."

Jones added, "Chops had to go back and Wayne decided here wasn’t for him, but QPR. Both things were out of our control.

"We gave our best offer for Wayne, but it wasn’t good enough. Do I mope about? No, we get on with it – we move on.

"Everyone’s going on about him, but we’ve won games before without him. We’re not just in this position because of Chops and Wayne."

Cardiff currently only have Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack as recognised forwards.