Jones fuming over Blake injury blow

Mar 28 2008 by Steve Tucker, Western Mail

DAVE JONES last night launched a broadside at Wales after injury to teenager Darcy Blake plunged the Bluebirds into a desperate pre-Wembley defensive crisis.

Jones, inset, was left fuming after it emerged 19-year-old Blake will be out for four matches after suffering a groin injury while training with the Welsh under-21s just a day after Cardiff’s hard-fought victory over Bristol City last Saturday.

His misery was further compounded ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Southampton at Ninian Park with the news full-back Tony Capaldi is also struggling after picking up a back injury.

All this comes as defender Kevin McNaughton, who Blake had been deputising for, battles to overcome a hamstring injury.

With Cardiff’s big FA Cup semi-final against Barnsley just nine days away, Jones, who was unable to recruit any fresh faces ahead of the end of the emergency loan period yesterday, admits he is facing some difficult choices.

And he is laying at least part of the blame firmly at the door of Wales Under-21 boss Brian Flynn.

“Wales have done us absolutely no favours at all. To say I am not very happy with them at this point is putting it mildly” said Jones.

“You would think there would be someone there with enough sense to know you should not be making a young lad train the next day after he has played in a very tough derby game against Bristol City.

“Darcy has pulled his groin now and we are looking at four games with him out.

“Tony Capaldi also has a back problem and we will have to monitor that to see how things develop.

“Kevin McNaughton is back, but has not kicked a ball yet.

“We are looking at a situation where we might have to bring him back now for West Brom on Tuesday.

“He would need at least a game ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. I do have a lot of things to think about, it would be fair to say.”

Jones has been left further frustrated by his inability to bring in any fresh faces on loan ahead of the emergency window closing at 5pm yesterday.

Following a ruling in favour of the Bluebirds at the High Court last week enabling them to hold fire on the repayment of £24m to creditor Langston, there was hope Jones might at last be able to strengthen.

But this was not the case. Jones said his hands were still tied by financial restrictions with the court decision coming way too late from his perspective.

“Sure I am frustrated and disappointed not to be able to add to the squad, but that is what happens when you have no money,” said Jones.

“What can you do when your hands are tied? We have not actually spent any money on a player since signing Warren Feeney nearly a year ago.

“The court case came two months too late for us. We really needed to strengthen in January, but that is the way things go.

“Most of the players had already gone by now anyway. But we have to keep going with our players who have done well for us.

“It is a matter of trying to avoid further injuries and suspensions, if at all possible.”

The Bluebirds had expressed an interest in new Welsh international Ashley Williams only to lose out yesterday to arch-rivals Swansea.

The 23-year-old signed on loan until the end of the season at the Liberty from Stockport County.

Cardiff have also missed out on two strikers from the Premiership, another area in much need of strengthening with Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink still ruled out of City’s next two fixtures through suspension.

The Bluebirds are believed to have been one of a clutch of Championship clubs interested in Manchester City’s Emile Mpenza.

But the 29-year-old Belgian international decided to remain at Eastlands and fight for his place despite limited opportunities under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Eriksson commented, “Emile has had a lot of requests, but so far he wants to stay. He is under contract, so it is very much up to him if he wants to stay and fight.”

Meanwhile tomorrow’s visitors Southampton yesterday signed veteran defender Chris Perry on loan until the end of the season from Luton.

The 34-year-old, who has had spells at Spurs and Charlton, goes straight into the Saints squad for the Cardiff clash.