CARDIFF CITY vs CHARLTON ATHLETIC weekend preview

A fortnight's break for international action which, due to various injuries and non-selections, turned into a rest for most Cardiff City players. Instead of half a dozen or more absent with their countries at times like these, only utility player Miguel Comminges and youngsters Tom Heaton, Darcy Blake and Jon Brown with Wales and England Under-21's were away.

It has enabled City to treat a couple of walking wounded such as McNaughton, Rae, McPhail and Kennedy while Tony Capaldi and Riccy Scimeca are back in full-time training after lengthy absences, Capaldi having managed just 10 minutes all season so far. The downside is Joe Ledley remains injured from his hamstring tear at Blackpool a fortnight ago and is predicted to be absent for at least another week meaning upto 3 City games missed as a minimum as Cardiff gear to visiting Watford and Nottingham Forest after tomorrow's visit of Charlton Athletic.

Poor losses and terrible performances home and away to Charlton last season (3-0 and 2-0 defeats) put Dave Jones under immense pressure but the storm was weathered and you'd hope City will be looking for revenge and to show they are pushing on after an unconvincing start to this season in which they've only lost once in 10 Championship games and lie 7th but lack a scoring touch and haven't really overpowered anyone to date.



I suspect City's side selects itself and will be Heaton, McNaughton-Purse-Johnson-Kennedy, Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Parry, Bothroyd-MacCormack and alternative options and challengers for starting berths are far too sparse.

If City have failed to set the world alight, Charlton are relative strugglers. In 14th place and devoid of any consistency. They've won 3 and lost 2 at home while 5 awaydays have been tight with just 6 goals but they've had 3 defeats and a single victory. Off-field, they have a current distraction with possible new Dubai owners expressing keen interest but that deal's not done so focus tomorrow will be on under pressure boss Alan Pardew and his under-performing squad. Only Far East defender Zhi is absent so they have a full squad to select from.

The likely Charlton Athletic side playing 4-5-1 will be: Weaver; Semedo-Hudson-Primus-Youga; Sam-Ambrose-Bailey-Holland-Bouazza; Varney. .

Goals seem to be at a premium for both sides so it's hard to see past a 1-0 score either way or a 0-0, 1-1 draw. I feel City have enough in them to make sure they nick it.