Cardiff City face a challenging test as they prepare to take on Wrexham in the upcoming EFL Cup fixture, overshadowed by concerns over winger Chris Willock’s fitness. Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has confirmed that Willock is unlikely to feature in the match, dealing a blow to the Bluebirds’ attacking options.
Willock, who has been a key creative force for Cardiff City this season, suffered a quad injury during training in the lead-up to their recent league game against Bolton Wanderers. Although the 25-year-old managed to play through the discomfort against Reading earlier in the campaign, the injury worsened and prevented him from completing training sessions in the days before the Bolton match. The absence of Willock was evident, as Cardiff struggled to find attacking rhythm and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat, their first away loss in League One this season.
“We will have to wait and see, but at the moment, Chris is unlikely to be ready for Tuesday’s cup tie against Wrexham,” Barry-Murphy explained following the Bolton game. The coach also revealed that Willock was sent for a scan to assess the severity of the quad problem before finalizing squad decisions.
Cardiff currently top the League One table, and while the loss to Bolton ended their unbeaten away run, their position remains secure following draws by closest rivals Bradford and Stevenage. Nonetheless, the absence of a player capable of unlocking opposition defenses could hamper their ambitions in cup competition, particularly against an in-form Wrexham side eager to make a statement.
Barry-Murphy lamented the manner of the Bolton defeat, conceding a late goal in stoppage time which underscored the need for better attacking momentum: “When you don’t have enough attacking momentum, you’re always in danger of conceding a goal like we did, and today that was the case.”
As the Bluebirds look to regroup quickly, all eyes will be on how they adapt tactically to the absence of Willock. The EFL Cup tie represents an opportunity to bounce back and maintain positive momentum in a congested fixture schedule. However, replacing the creativity and pace that Willock offers will be no easy task.
With fitness updates awaited, Cardiff City will need collective resilience and resourcefulness when they visit Wrexham, as the injured winger’s sidelining casts a significant shadow over their preparations. Fans will hope for a speedy recovery for Willock to bolster the squad’s strength in the crucial weeks ahead.
