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Glen Williams

The early Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers team news as in-form man comes back into the fold

Robert Glatzel will be in contention to start tonight's Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers.

The Cardiff City striker, who scored in each of the Bluebirds' first two games back in the wins over Leeds United and Preston, was forced off before the break against Charlton Athletic last week after a nasty head collision.

He was subsequently ruled out of the win over Bristol City last weekend, which afforded Danny Ward the opportunity to replace Callum Paterson before he hammered home the winner against the Robins.

It means Neil Harris has another big selection dilemma on his hands heading into tonight's match, with one of Paterson, Ward or Glatzel to get the nod.

But with Glatzel and Ward in the goals and Paterson having done so well in tiring opposition defences, it's a good headache for Harris to have.

"Glatz is fine," Harris said. "He comes back into the group. Barring that we are fit.

"As we’ve alluded to before, I’ve pushed them really hard and done late-night training sessions. The lads are being pushed.

"But they’ve been really good and fingers crossed, touch wood, we rock up tomorrow night and are in a healthy scenario."

As for Lee Tomlin, who has made a substitute appearance in every game so far, his recovery appears to be a little more complex than what we had first thought.

Harris revealed the player is being monitored closely and has to be managed carefully at the moment, such is the nature of his slow return to full fitness.

"He is available now because we are managing him as we go," Harris added. "He is still not 100 percent fit and it’s a lot more complex than just thinking it's a time issue. It's a lot more complex.

"You will see and understand more as time goes on. I am happy to manage Lee day by day and week by week at the moment, getting him on the pitch as often as possible is absolutely vital for us. Whether it’s 60 or 70 minutes or 30 minutes, Lee has a huge part to play for us."

Elsewhere, Greg Cunningham and Isaac Vassell are still progressing with their long-term injuries, but still won't be ready for some time.

Harris will likely make some changes from last weekend's win at Ashton Gate, meaning we might see Josh Murphy come back into the starting lineup for the first time since lockdown.

The back five, including Alex Smithies, you would think would stay pretty much as it is.

In midfield three of Joe Ralls, Will Vaulks, Leandro Bacuna, Marlon Pack and Lee Tomlin will get the nod, however Harris sees fit.

It's difficult to look past Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the right wing, too, given how electric he has been in recent weeks, so expect him to start.

Predicted Cardiff City XI (4-3-3): Smithies; Sanderson, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Vaulks, Bacuna, Ralls; Mendez-Laing, Paterson, Murphy.

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Rovers, meanwhile, are desperately short in the left-back position, with Amari'i Bell and Derrick Williams both absent since the restart and their replacements Joe Rankin-Costello and Elliott Bennett both suffering injuries in matches.

Bennett has deputised in the full-back role for the last three fixtures but was forced off early in the defeat to Leeds United after a collision with Jack Harrison.

The initial diagnosis was that it was a dead leg, but Bennett is expected to travel with the squad.

Predicted Blackburn Rovers XI (4-3-3): Walton; Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bennett; Downing, Johnson, Rothwell; Samuel, Gallagher, Armstrong.

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