Cardiff City boss Neil Harris has said he will make a late decision over whether to include new signing Brad Smith for tonight's Championship clash with Reading.
The Bluebirds made Smith, a left back from Bournemouth, their first recruit of the January window, signing him on loan until the end of the season.
Smith enjoyed a stellar stint on loan at Seattle Sounders last year and helped them lift the MLS Cup. However, since returning to Bournemouth back in November, he has not played a minute of senior football.
It means Harris will have to decide whether Smith, who yesterday trained with the squad for the first time, is ready to be thrown into action, with another game against Royals, an FA Cup replay, scheduled for Tuesday.
Given the cluster of fixtures, Harris is likely to go for the incumbent Joe Bennett, with a view to affording Smith his debut on Tuesday night.
Elsewhere, Joe Ralls has been ruled out of both clashes with the Royals owing to an injury to his gluteal muscle in his backside.
Harris, however, reassured that the injury wasn't serious and the midfielder will likely be back in contention soon.
Danny Ward has also trained this week. The manager said the striker has missed the last two games owing to a mixture of concussion and personal issues after his dear friend Jordan Sinnott, both of whom played together at Huddersfield, sadly passed away last week.
Harris said he will have to have a conversation with Ward in the lead-up to the game to assess whether he is ready to come back into the fray.
In more positive news, however, Lee Peltier has trained with the squad and comes back into the reckoning for the visit of the Royals.
The right back hobbled off in the South Wales derby against Swansea City a couple of weeks ago with a dead leg and hasn't been seen since.
But it now looks as though Peltier will resume his role as right back this evening.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Matthew Connolly and Isaac Vassell are once again the long-term absentees.
Predicted Cardiff City XI: Smithies; Peltier, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Pack, Vaulks; Whyte, Tomlin, Hoilett; Paterson
Pick your team below.
For tonight's visitors, none of their new signings will be available to play.
Midfielders Felipe Araruna and Ayub Timbe underwent medicals at the Berkshire club on Thursday afternoon ahead of sealing their moves, however it is understood that neither will take part tonight.
Elsewhere, Lucas Joao (hamstring), Andy Yiadom (knee) and Chelsea loanee Matt Miazga (ankle) are all expected to miss tonight's fixture.
