Youth talent makes for 'exciting period' at Cardiff

Former Cardiff City youth coach David Hughes believes the crop of young talent currently in the Bluebirds' ranks makes for an "exciting period" at the club.

Brian Barry-Murphy has relied heavily on players from the Bluebirds' academy since taking charge of the club in the summer following Cardiff's relegation from the Championship.

Several young guns, including Rubin Colwill, have thrived this season as Cardiff look to secure an immediate return to the second-tier, with Hughes praising the work done within the club's youth set-up.

"James McCarthy was there before me when those younger players were recruited and he deserves the credit for it. Gavin Chesterfield has taken it on from there," Hughes told the Feast of Football podcast.

"When you look at some of the younger players, Joel [Colwill], Dylan [Lawlor], they sold a few, Charlie Crew went to Leeds, Lewys Benjamin to Wolves, Gabriele Biancheri went to Manchester United, all from the same age group of the ones we're talking about.

"There is definitely a group within that era where they can cement themselves as top players, Rubin being one of those.

"I think it's an exciting period for the club with the young players they've got and the ones they've got coming behind which is equally as exciting for Wales as it is for Cardiff, so let's hope they can push on with a promotion."

Only Peterborough United have fielded a side with an average age younger than Barry-Murphy has deployed at Cardiff so far in League One this season.

Hughes feels the club's relegation provided the platform for Cardiff's young guns to impress.

"There's a different focus from staying in the Championship to trying to win a league," he added.

"They go down, and now the intention is to try and win the league.

"What relegation may have done is open the door for the younger players to get the experience of playing in League One to then step back up."