Cardiff City's Lee Tomlin and Gary Madine both featured for the Bluebirds' Under-23s side in their 1-1 draw against Larkhall Athletic on Friday night after missing out on the club's pre-season tour in America.
Both Tomlin and Madine have been unable to travel to the States after they were denied visas to enter the country, with both players looking to impress Neil Warnock in a bid to change their fortunes in south Wales after struggling so far.
As such, they have been drafted in with the U23s instead, with both players being named in the starting line-up for Friday's draw at the Securitas Stadium.
Tomlin netted the Bluebirds' only goal of the game following a 54th minute penalty brought about when Cardiff's Ntazana Mayembe was taken down.
Larkhall equalised within minutes thanks to Matt Britton.
Tomlin was also behind a goal just minutes into the second half, but it was ruled out for offside.
It's understood that Warnock is keen on giving Tomlin a chance this summer to prove himself. The playmaker recently gave a moving interview about his own mental health struggles, admitting he contemplated taking his own life.
Madine, too, will be keen to resolve his future, whether that's with Cardiff or not.
On Friday, they weren't the only first team squad members to feature, with Alex Smithies - who has not travelled to the US - starting in goal. His omission from Warnock's travelling party came as something of a surprise, and with both Joe Day and Neil Etheridge travelling, it has thrown up some uncertainty over his future in the Welsh capital.
Cardiff City confirmed their 21-man squad for the pre-season tour of America and Canada on Friday, which you can find here.
And while Rhys Healey has also been left behind for the US trip, he was not involved in the U23s game.
It now remains to be seen whether the first-team players will travel with Andy Legg's U23s squad on their pre-season tour to Devon and Cornwall. They face Tavistock on Monday, Bodmin Town next Wednesday before playing Plymouth Parkway on Friday. Given Tomlin and Madine's involvement so far, it looks likely.
