Two former Robins could be in Cardiff City’s roster for their Saturday matchup with Bristol City.
In the Severnside Derby on Saturday, Cardiff City hopes to include Callum O’Dowda in their matchday lineup. The former Bristol City winger hasn’t played in six months.
O’Dowda joined the Bluebirds in the summer of 2022, having previously played for the Robins. He is currently in his second season as a Bluebird, however under Erol Bulut, he has only made four appearances, the most recent being on August 26 against Sheffield Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international is hopeful that he will be added to the bench for this weekend’s journey down the M4. The player had groin surgery and then experienced two setbacks during his recuperation.
O’Dowda scored 10 goals in 176 games for City between 2016 and 2022, although he also suffered from major injury problems during his stay in the West Country. After playing 90 minutes in the 2-0 loss in August 2022, if he is allowed to play, this will be his second trip to Ashton Gate in Cardiff colors.
O’Dowda won’t be the only former City player playing for the Bluebirds; Famara Diedhiou will make his BS3 debut after departing the team in the summer of 2021.
The Senegalese player has made six appearances for Cardiff on loan from La Liga team Granada, but he has not made much of an impression. In 185 minutes of play, Diedhiou has yet to reach the target and has only managed two shots, mostly as a substitute.
The greatest enemy of the city Callum Robinson, a forward who has scored six goals in 12 games against the Robins and has only lost two of his 10 games as a player for Preston North End, West Brom, and Cardiff, is back in training for Bulut’s team. Robinson hasn’t been seen since January 1st.
The Wales talisman Aaron Ramsey is out until the end of March due to a calf injury, so the visitors on Saturday will be without him. Goalkeeper Jan Alnwick will be evaluated this week.
Midfielder Joe Ralls, forward Yakou Meite, and defender Perry Ng—who scored in City’s 2-0 loss to South Wales in October, which turned out to be Nigel Pearson’s final game as manager—all made successful injury returns in the team’s 2-1 victory over Stoke City this past weekend.
