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Glen Williams

Cardiff City headlines as Morison reveals Bluebirds transfer offer and Tomlin gets nickname at new club Walsall

Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Friday, February 25.

Morison on Cardiff's interest in signing him

Steve Morison has revealed he once received an offer to join Cardiff City from Millwall, but eventually signed for Premier League side Norwich City that summer.

Morison's stock was sky high after scoring 35 Championship goals in two seasons with the Lions and Malky Mackay was keen to add the Wales international to his ranks ahead of a promotion push in the 2011/12 season.

Morison, though, opted for Norwich in the top flight. Cardiff eventually signed Robert Earnshaw, Kenny Miller and Rudy Gestede.

Ahead of this weekend's clash with Fulham, Morison was asked if he ever had a chance to join the Cottagers in his playing days, to which he responded: "I don't know, I doubt it. I got one from Cardiff once! I remember that.

"I don't think it went any further than interest - I can't remember when it was. I think it was when I went to Norwich from Millwall.

"I remember that period. It was when the Cardiff fan fell out of the stadium, I scored the equaliser, I lobbed Stephen Bywater.

"I remember [Cardiff] had just equalised and we were standing at the halfway line and me and Craig [Bellamy] were looking and all of a sudden the geezer just fell out of the stand, but he had so much to drink he didn't even hurt himself.

"Yeah, it was all around that time!"

READ MORE: All the latest Cardiff City news, views, features and opinion here

Tomlin joins Walsall

Walsall boss Mike Flynn has hailed the arrival of former Cardiff City star Lee Tomlin as a "massive signing".

Tomlin has not played a competitive game for the Bluebirds since October 2020, but has trained with Northampton Town and Wrexham in recent weeks to build his fitness.

But Flynn, who hopes Tomlin can be involved against Hartlepool United on Saturday, snared the 33-year-old's signature and even revealed his nickname for the new man.

"It's a massive signing," said Flynn. "I call him the key master because he can unlock any defence.

"He's got that quality. He hasn't played as many games lately as we would've liked, but he's been training with us.

"He's trained with Wrexham and Northampton, too, so it's not just like he's been sat at home.

"I know he's sharp, so I'm hoping he'll be involved in the game and helping us win.

"We've signed him until the end of the season. Jamie Fullarton (technical director) has done a brilliant job in getting this over the line," said Flynn.

"It's a huge signing for us. Straight away, he's lifted the players. They're really happy to see him and know his quality from the training sessions he's had with us, and obviously watching him.

"He's had a good, good career and at 33, he's got a lot of life left in him. Lee had lots of other interest. I've managed to convince him to come here. He was honest with me all along, and he said he wanted to play for myself and Walsall FC.

"Straight away, that says he's in the right frame of mind to do the business for us."

'No reason' Vaulks shouldn't be selected for Wales

Morison has revealed Will Vaulks' disappointed at his Wales omissions but sees no reason he should not be included in the squad for their World Cup play-off campaign next month.

Wales take on Austria in their semi-final clash, with the winner set to face the victors of the other semi-final, Scotland v Ukraine, for a spot at the World Cup in Qatar.

Vaulks has played a bit-part in Wales camps over the last two years or so, but Morison believes he has a shot if he continues his upwards curve in performances.

"It really disappoints him when he doesn’t get selected. So it’s a good thing that he cares," Morison said of the Wales midfielder.

"All he can do is play and do well. We are on Wales’ doorstep, so he is here and can see him playing.

"If they see him doing well there’s no reason he shouldn’t be in there."

Vaulks has stepped in amid the recent absence of Joe Ralls and has done well in the middle of the park. Morison praised the player's displays over the last week or so.

"He’s been excellent," the manager added. "It’s been tough for a few of them, Tommy [Doyle] coming in and Ryan [Wintle] coming back meant there was more competition and change is difficult for people to deal with.

"People react in different ways, but from Will’s point of view he has been patient and he has been good every time he has come in.

"I think he has been excellent."

Cairney out with illness

Fulham captain Tom Cairney will miss the clash with Cardiff this weekend due to sickness.

The Scotland international scored in the Cottagers' 2-1 win over the Bluebirds in west London in October, but will be absent for the return fixture owing to an illness which kept him out of their win over Peterborough in midweek.

“There are no big problems but it is the same situation with TC,” boss Marco Silva said.

“He was unwell last night and is still the same this morning, but all of the others have recovered well and are all OK.”

On Cardiff's threats, Silva said: "They are in a good mood, they are playing at home, and they’re the type of team who are physical, play a direct game, long balls, really strong in set-pieces, and in this moment they are really strong in the offensive transition, counter attacks.

“Moments that we can switch off, they can punish you, definitely, because they have quick players in the attack line. They have two strikers who are always waiting for a mistake, to punish you. Their wing-backs can also support their attack well.

“Definitely it will be a tough match for us, another one."

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