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Search forStriker light City still pose attacking threat
Friday, November 21, 2008, 07:00
Midfield pair Joe Ledley and Peter Whittingham both suffered injuries which will keep them out of action for some time.
Whittingham's was the most serious. He ruptured ankle ligaments and will be sidelined for three months.
Ledley suffered a dislocated finger against Palace but continued to play on after receiving treatment.
The talented left-sided midfielder even scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 52nd minute.
However, Ledley had an operation on the finger on Tuesday and will be out of action for a month.
The 21-year-old had to drop out of the Wales squad for their friendly against Denmark in Brondby on Wednesday.
The absence of Whittingham and Ledley comes at a time when Cardiff are already without four other top players.
Strikers Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack have both missed the last two matches because of hamstring injuries.
Bothroyd is still some way off a return to action and it is thought Cardiff's game against Argyle will come too soon for McCormack, who is City's top scorer.
McCormack was signed from Motherwell in June and has already netted 12 goals in 18 games.
That form earned the 22-year-old a call-up to the Scotland squad for their friendly against Argentina at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on Wednesday.
But McCormack could not take part in that match because of his hamstring injury.
With Bothroyd and McCormack both sidelined, Cardiff boss Dave Jones moved swiftly to bring back striker Michael Chopra (see One to Watch) to Ninian Park.
Chopra scored a penalty for Cardiff's first goal against Palace, but had another spot-kick saved in stoppage time.
Cardiff's lengthy injury list also includes former Argyle left-back Tony Capaldi (knee) and defender Riccardo Scimeca (groin).
Capaldi has only played once this season, in the Bluebirds' 2-1 home win against MK Dons in the Carling Cup second round at the end of August.
Despite all the injuries, Cardiff are in sixth position in the Championship and Jones wants to keep that momentum going.
And yesterday he completed the two-month loan signing of Aston Villa's out-of-favour winger Wayne Routledge.
The former England under-21 international is expected to make his debut against Argyle.
Another boost for Jones tomorrow is the return from a one-match suspension of defender Miguel Comminges.
The 26-year-old was sent-off for a second bookable offence in Cardiff's 1-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on November 8.
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