Cardiff City are facing a mounting injury crisis ahead of their crucial Championship fixture against Derby County, with key players Aaron Ramsey and Jesper Daland sidelined.
The Bluebirds are struggling to get going in the Championship this season and face a tough visit from the Rams. The latest setback came after Ramsey suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty with Wales, adding to the club’s growing list of absentees.
Ramsey, who has battled injury issues throughout much of the previous season, was forced to leave the pitch after only 20 minutes during Wales’ 2-0 win over Montenegro. The Cardiff City star felt discomfort in his hamstring, leaving the Bluebirds without one of their most experienced midfielders for the trip to Pride Park on Saturday.
Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut confirmed that Ramsey will not feature in the upcoming match, though the full extent of his injury is still unknown.
“We’ll miss him for the Derby game,” Bulut said in a press conference. “He played 20 minutes in the last national game against Montenegro and felt something in his hamstring. He needs a bit of time now.”
Although the club has not set a specific timeline for Ramsey’s recovery, Bulut remains hopeful that it is not a long-term issue. “I hope it’s nothing serious, but we’ll have to wait for the full medical report. He won’t be with us on Saturday,” Bulut added.
The 33-year-old Ramsey, who rejoined Cardiff City from French side Nice in the summer of 2023, has struggled to stay injury-free since returning to his boyhood club. Having already missed significant time last season due to a knee injury, this latest setback leaves Cardiff without one of their most influential figures as they look to secure their first Championship win of the season.
In addition to Ramsey, Norwegian defender Jesper Daland has also been ruled out for Cardiff. Daland, a summer signing from Belgian side Cercle Bruges, picked up a leg injury during Cardiff’s 2-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough on August 31 and was unable to join Norway for their Nations League matches against Kazakhstan and Austria.
Providing an update on Daland’s condition, Bulut explained that the defender is still in recovery mode. “He didn’t join the Norway squad because he’s still wearing a boot due to his leg injury from the last game. He’ll be out of the boot by Friday, and then he can begin light training. Hopefully, he’ll be back in full training soon,” said Bulut.
With both Ramsey and Daland unavailable, Cardiff City will have to make adjustments as they search for a way to turn their season around. The Bluebirds have yet to secure a victory in the Championship this season, and these injuries will only make their task more difficult as they face a tough test away to Derby County.
However, there is some positive news for Cardiff City as captain Joe Ralls has been declared fit to return. Ralls, who had been sidelined with hip and groin issues, is set to bolster the midfield options for Bulut this weekend.
“Joe Ralls trained with us and will be available,” Bulut confirmed. “As captain, he’s a leader both on and off the pitch. It’s always a boost to have him back in the team.”
Ralls, who missed two recent games due to injury, returned to full training earlier this week and is expected to play a key role in Saturday’s fixture. His return will provide much-needed experience and leadership in what is expected to be a challenging match for Cardiff City.
Writer’s View
Cardiff City’s injury problems could not have come at a worse time. Ramsey’s absence, in particular, is a major blow to Erol Bulut’s side, as his experience and quality in the midfield are crucial to how the Bluebirds play. With the team struggling to find their first win of the season, the pressure is mounting, and missing key players like Ramsey and Daland only adds to the challenge.
While Joe Ralls’ return is a positive, Cardiff’s overall injury situation raises questions about squad depth and whether they can cope with the demands of the Championship. How they manage this difficult period could define their season.
It’s about time the City stopped any current first team players going off on international duty…particularly with Wales, as they always seem to come back injured…does the Wales setup offer any compensation…I bet not