Cardiff City striker Max Watters is set to complete a loan move to Barnsley, manager Mark Hudson has confirmed.
The Bluebirds forward was earmarked as the club's first-choice striker at the beginning of the campaign, however he is yet to score in 11 games this term. He has just one goal, against Bristol City in January, in his 22 appearances for Cardiff.
And he has now been usurped in the pecking order by Callum Robinson and Kion Etete, while Mark Harris and Isaak Davies are also thought to be options in that position.
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Watters enjoyed success at League One level last year, scoring six and assisting one in 13 games for MK Dons before the Bluebirds recalled him in the January window.
But his return just hasn't worked and Hudson believes a loan away from the club is the best thing for the 23-year-old.
"Max is today completing a loan to Barnsley," Hudson said at his pre-Leeds United press conference on Thursday afternoon. "That will be good for him to go and score goals and do well for Barnsley.
"That was needed for him. He found it frustrating here, obviously.
"He felt that he was carrying a burden of why it hasn't worked here. I sit with players as much as I can, spend a lot of time with Max, away from prying eyes and ears. It's showing that I care.
"He had some interest, quite a lot of interest, from League One and Barnsley have knocked down the door for him to go there and play in a (front) two. They see he can be capable of scoring goals for them.
"We would then get a player back for next season."
Asked if he was in City's plans for next season, Hudson replied: "Absolutely. He has got to put himself out there, score the goals, do well for them and find the confidence and the flow and rhythm to come back here and impact. Or whatever he wants to do in the future."
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