Cardiff City

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Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts believes Cardiff City should follow Wrexham's lead as they prepare to return to the Championship.

Cardiff are heading immediately back to the second tier after clinching second place in League One in their first season at the lower level since 2003.

A string of youngsters – many of them academy products – have played a starring role in Cardiff's promotion success.

But Roberts believesCardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy should take a leaf out of Wrexham opposite number Phil Parkinson's book by looking to recruit proven Championship performers this summer.

Having been promoted from League One last season, Parkinson brought in the likes of Dom Hyam, Callum Doyle, Lewis O'Brien Ben Sheaf, Josh Windass and Kieffer Moore last summer.

"I don't think Cardiff need to go overboard, maybe [bring in] three, four players who have played in the Championship," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"Do what Wrexham did – don't go for youngsters from Premier League clubs who are wet behind the ears and haven't got too much experience of first-team football.

"If you can, try to get tried and tested players, as Phil did last summer."

Roberts believes a striker and a left-back should be among Cardiff's top targets, while he argues the Welsh club should do all they can to keep goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who is on loan from Danish club FC Copenhagen.

"Nathan Trott would be a massive loss," he added.

"He is so good with the ball at his feet and he is a good goalkeeper full stop. If he goes, there's a massive hole to fill."

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Brian Barry-Murphy says he will stick to his senior squad for Cardiff City's final games in League One.

Cardiff have already secured promotion back to the Championship and have been told to "enjoy" their remaining fixtures in the third tier.

But ahead of Saturday's Cardiff City Stadium celebration against bottom side Northampton Town (15:00 BST), Bluebirds manager Barry-Murphy said he would not look to blood any further youngsters and instead select from the same players used during a campaign that brought a second-placed finish.

That success was based on use of academy graduates, with one of them, 24-year-old Isaak Davies, available again after being out since February with a hamstring problem.

However, fellow forward Cian Ashford will miss the last two games of the campaign after failing to recover from a back injury.

Midfielder Eli King, who has missed almost the entire campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, is back in limited training but will not be under consideration. He is expected to be back fully fit in time for pre-season.

"We'll pick the team on Friday based on who is in the best condition and who gives us the best chance of winning," Barry-Murphy said after Wednesday's 1-0 win over Port Vale.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

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Brian Barry-Murphy admits Cardiff City's promotion celebrations mark "a new experience" in his coaching career as the Bluebirds prepare to host Port Vale on Wednesday (19:45 BST).

Promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt has looked inevitable for large parts of the campaign, but it was sealed in dramatic fashion last Saturday as Exeter City goalkeeper Jack Bycroft scored a 96th-minute equaliser against Stockport County to seal Cardiff's return.

The Bluebirds were already five points clear of third-placed Bradford City on New Year's Day, and that advantage has only continued to grow - now standing at 11 points to third-placed Bolton Wanderers.

While Lincoln City won the League One title with a 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday, Barry-Murphy's men have also stamped their authority on the division, losing just eight matches all season.

Despite Wednesday's game offering little tangible to play for in league terms, Barry-Murphy has insisted his side are determined to continue their winning momentum as fans expect.

That stands in contrast to Port Vale, who arrive at Cardiff City Stadium knowing that anything other than a victory would confirm their relegation to League Two.

"It's a new experience for me," the Irishman said on BBC 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"Normally I've always had something on the line or been fighting at the other end of the table.

"I quickly realised that our club is a huge club, and we expect the attendances on Wednesday and Saturday to be enormous.

"So, I always think for the supporters, if we can keep winning and try and put on really good performances, that's the best way - so we're trying to do our best to win all the games."

Cardiff head into the contest in strong form seeking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Five more points from the remaining fixtures would see the Bluebirds equal their highest-ever points tally of 90, achieved under Neil Warnock during the 2017-18 Championship season.

In that campaign they finished runners-up to Wolverhampton Wanderers - a side they will face again next season as Wolves' relegation to the Championship was confirmed after West Ham United's draw at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Port Vale, meanwhile, offer a note of caution for the hosts. Jon Brady's side are unbeaten in their last four matches and have shown resilience during a critical stage of the season.

However, their struggles away from home remain evident, with the Valiants managing just five away wins all campaign.

But Port Vale have already proved they can be tough customers for their high-flying hosts, as they look to upset the promotion celebrations having frustrated the south Wales side in a goalless draw on the opening day of the season.

Barry-Murphy's side will be keen to show how far they have progressed since that afternoon and toast promotion in front of their home supporters in fine style.

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Former Cardiff City defender Danny Gabbidon hopes head coach Brian Barry-Murphy will be given the necessary funds to strengthen his squad ahead of the Bluebirds return to the Championship.

Cardiff secured promotion to the Championship 12 months after they were relegated with a 3-1 win away to Reading.

"I think the manager probably deserves that right in the summer to get a bit of money to strengthen the squad so they're competitive next season," Gabbidon said

"It's going to be a big summer for the club and they've got to continue to get that decision-making right.

"The Championship is a different kettle of fish.

"I think, particularly for the young players, having opportunities to play at League One level has been brilliant for their development.

"But that step up is quite big into the Championship and, for sure, there will probably have to be tweaks to the squad.

"Maybe a little bit more experience coming in.

"You hope that the young players, with a year of experience at this level, can kind of kick on at Championship level and develop further, which I'm sure a lot of them will."

Gabbidon, who had two spells with Cardiff and served briefly as interim manager in 2014, was full of praise for Barry-Murphy.

Barry-Murphy, 47, who previously managed Rochdale as well as a coach at Manchester City's academy and Leicester City first team coach, was appointed last summer following Cardiff's relegation from the Championship.

"He's been brilliant," Gabbidon told BBC Sport Wales.

"I think you look at the difficulties that Cardiff had in the summer, obviously getting relegated and looking to try and find a new manager.

"That hasn't always gone well for the club over the last few seasons, but I think they've been spot on with the appointment.

"He's just taken to the job like a duck to water, really.

"I think you look at the way the team has performed this season, that's probably what has impressed me the most.

"The amount of young players that have been given opportunities, a lot of young players playing at this level for the first time.

"I think the managers have got that balance right of youth and experience in the team.

"They've been really enjoyable to watch, they really have. That's probably been the thing that's impressed me most this season.

"It's a little bit disappointing to be leading the league for maybe so long - obviously Lincoln, you have to give credit to them.

"They've been on a fantastic run and I think that will maybe disappoint the players a little bit.

"But the main aim at the start of the season was to bounce back straight away and get back into the Championship, first time of asking."