The Wales midfielder has been out for four months and Cardiff City have been in poor form without him
AARON Ramsey returns to bolster the Bluebirds’ attack this weekend as they travel to Watford after a crazy Thursday of transfer deadline day deals.
Six players came in and 12 went out, but as much as the new signings are exciting, it is Ramsey’s return that has fans truly excited.
The Wales captain has been out since September’s win against arch-rivals Swansea City, when his penalty in the 86th penalty minute cemented victory.
Cardiff have since fallen to 14th in the Championship table and are in poor form, having only won one game out of their last four.
Before Ramsey’s injury, the Bluebirds were in the top half of the table and had won three of the four games before he was injured.
Cardiff City’s form pre-Ramsey injury
| W | Cardiff City | 2 | – | 0 | Swansea | Championship |
| L | Ipswich Town | 3 | – | 2 | Cardiff City | Championship |
| W | Birmingham City | 1 | – | 3 | Cardiff City | League Cup |
| W | Cardiff City | 2 | – | 1 | Sheffield | Championship |
Ramsey has played six matches for Cardiff this season – when he’s been there, they’ve won two, lost three, and drawn one. Even so, Ramsey has a huge effect on the team. In those games he scored three times and was integral to Cardiff’s play when they had the ball.
Despite playing only six games, he’s the fifth highest scoring player for Cardiff this season, only two behind Perry Ng, who has scored five times for the Bluebirds so far this season.
Watford are ninth in the Championship table. They play Southampton again on Tuesday in the FA Cup fourth round, after a one-all draw last Sunday. A focus on the cup may affect the Hornets’ performance this weekend.
Current Cardiff City form
Current Watford form
| L | Plymouth Argyle | 3 | – | 1 | Cardiff City | Championship |
| L | Cardiff City | 0 | – | 3 | Leeds United | FA Cup third round |
| L | Sheffield Wednesday | 4 | – | 0 | Cardiff City | Championship |
| W | Queens Park Rangers | 1 | – | 2 | Cardiff City | Championship |
| D | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | – | 0 | Watford | Championship |
| D | Watford | 1 | – | 1 | Southampton | FA Cup fourth round |
| D | Bristol City | 1 | – | 1 | Watford | Championship |
| W | Queens Park Rangers | 1 | – | 2 | Watford | Championship |
Transfer deadline day delight
The Bluebirds welcomed a raft of new signings on Thursday’s transfer deadline day which they also hope will tip the season in their favour.
Striker Famara Diedhiou arrived on loan from Grenada, central defender Nathaniel Phillips joined on loan from Premier League giants Liverpool and Japanese defender Ryotaro Tsunoda signed but was immediately loaned to a club in Belgium.
Ethan Horvath, signed from Nottingham Forest, joined on a permanent contract. The goalkeeper has 20 clean sheets in 44 appearances and was part of the United States international team in the 2022 World Cup.
Josh Wilson-Esbrand, who has joined on loan from Manchester City, is a versatile player who can fit in at full-back, wing-back, or winger.
Perhaps the most exciting signing is David Turnbull, a midfielder transferred from Celtic, has won two Scottish Premierships, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups, scoring 31 goals and gaining 23 assists at his time with the Hoops.
Manager Erol Bulut said about Turnbull: “I see a lot of quality. He is a good age, he played the last three seasons with Celtic, scored and assisted many goals. This is what we need in our midfield. He is creative in the offensive shape and he can finalise attacks.”
The Bluebirds will be looking to get back to winning ways this weekend to achieve their aspirations of a play-off place come the end of the season.
