Keane: Connor's Pushing for a Place
Thursday, 16th Sep 2010 09:17

Boss Roy Keane says striker Connor Wickham is close to returning to his starting line-up after appearing from the bench in Town’s last two games. The England U17 international missed the start of the season with an ankle injury but came on for 20 minutes at Portsmouth and played the second half in Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to QPR.

Keane was impressed with the young striker’s performance against the league leaders: “I was very pleased with him. Connor’s pushing for a place on Saturday.

“We’re reluctant to start him, but what he does do, and what good players do, is have an impact on the game. They influence the game and Connor did that.

“I don’t think he got great support or great service, but he made the most of it and set up a great chance for Carlos with his tenacity when he chased a lost cause.”

Overall, the Blues boss felt his team were forced to go too long by Neil Warnock’s side: “Our players weren’t at their sharpest and when you’re not at your sharpest sometimes you look for that get-out ball.

“Credit to QPR, they made us play long and their centre-halves won a lot balls, particularly in the first half with Jason because that’s not his strength. We didn’t get enough balls in at his feet.

“But that was because we weren’t at our best and we had to change it at half-time. That’s football and we know we can do better.”

After Tuesday’s game Keane said there might be news on his targeted Premier League loan signing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Cardiff boss Dave Jones says he hopes to have Craig Bellamy back in his side when the Bluebirds travel to Suffolk on Saturday: “I’m hopeful Craig will be back — along with a couple of others.”

Bellamy has missed Cardiff’s last two games with a knee problem but was close to being involved in the Welsh side’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday.

Photo: Action Images

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