Key duo back for Bluebirds

Team news for Tuesday night's npower Championship clash between Cardiff and Leicester.

Last Updated: 11/03/13 at 18:13   

Craig Bellamy: Ready to return

Craig Bellamy: Ready to return

Cardiff captain Mark Hudson and talismanic striker Craig Bellamy will return to action when the npower Championship leaders welcome Leicester to south Wales.

Hudson missed the Bluebirds' last two games against Middlesbrough and Derby, matches they failed to win in his absence, and he is set to return from his ankle injury to partner Ben Turner in the heart of Cardiff's defence.

Bellamy, who scored the winner when the sides met back in December, had a few days away to recover from knocks to his ankle and calf but manager Malky Mackay is confident he will face the Foxes having missed the 1-1 draw with Derby.

The Wales international looks set to replace Heidar Helguson in the starting line-up while the likes of Craig Noone and Kim Bo-Kyung are pushing for starts.

Cardiff have taken just four points from a possible 12 since victory over struggling Bristol City in mid-February but watched many of their promotion rivals slip up on Saturday.

Ritchie De Laet looks like missing the trip.

The right-back was carried off on a stretcher towards the end of Leicester's 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday following a challenge from Owls midfielder Jeremy Helan.

His right leg was placed in a splint but scans after the game showed no break to any bones in his ankle or foot.

The fit-again Sean St Ledger and Zak Whitbread are ready to come into the team to replace De Laet.

Paul Konchesky missed out at the weekend with the hamstring injury that forced him off at half-time in the previous match against Leeds, so striker Jeff Schlupp again deputised as a makeshift left-back.

Konchesky may remain on the sidelines but the former England defender will be checked before manager Nigel Pearson finalises his plans.


Click here for completely free £10 bet with Sky Bet & £5 free every week


Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Championship Fixtures

There are no fixtures at present.

npower Championship

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Cardiff 46 27 87
2 Hull City 46 9 79
3 Watford 46 27 77
4 Brighton 46 26 75
5 C Palace 46 11 72
6 Leicester 46 23 68
7 Bolton 46 8 68
8 N Forest 46 4 67
9 Charlton 46 6 65
10 Derby 46 3 61
11 Burnley 46 2 61
12 Birmingham 46 -6 61
13 Leeds 46 -9 61
14 Ipswich 46 -13 60
15 Blackpool 46 -1 59
16 Middlesbro' 46 -9 59
17 Blackburn 46 -7 58
18 Sheff Wed 46 -8 58
19 Huddersfld 46 -20 58
20 Millwall 46 -11 56
21 Barnsley 46 -14 55
22 Peterboro 46 -9 54
23 Wolves 46 -14 51
24 Bristol C 46 -25 41

Updated Sat, 04 May 2013

Footer 365

England's Stuart Pearce a model professional, says Football Association

Football Association general secretary Alex Horne has hailed England Under-21s manager Stuart Pearce's professionalism.

Helenius deal to be concluded

Aston Villa are set to conclude a deal for Aalborg striker Nicklas Helenius after terms were agreed between the two clubs.

Hearts face points deduction

Hearts are likely to start the next Scottish Premier League season with a 15-point deduction should they go into administration as intended.

Mail Box

Well, This Isn't A Very Good Mailbox

No disrespect & all that to those included, but come on people, you can do better than this. Are you all sleeping? Is there really nothing you want to talk about? Please?

BAU At Newcastle United Clown College...

Newcastle fans aren't happy about Joe Kinnear's appointment as the club's new director of football. Plus, more chocolate football and a love letter to Fernando Redondo...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved