Erol Bulut reveals devastating Cardiff City injury list with 12 players out for Southampton

Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut has revealed he will be without as many as 12 players for the visit of Southampton this weekend.

The depleted Bluebirds will have to field a threadbare team with a number of youngsters on the bench owing to both injury and illness.

Adding to the club's injury woes are player of the season candidates Perry Ng and Karlan Grant, the former is out for the season in a massive blow. Jamilu Collins is also out, while Callum Robinson and Josh Bowler are ill.

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It adds to the already-injured cohort of Aaron Ramsey, Mark McGuinness, Jak Alnwick, Ryan Wintle, Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Callum O'Dowda, leaving Bulut with huge selection dilemma ahead of the clash with promotion-chasing Southampton. Ramsey's scan this week showed up a grade two hamstring tear, which puts him out for the season. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.

"It's not nice, but right now we have 12 injuries," Bulut said. "This weekend a few will not be with us. Sickness, strains. Ng, a strain, for him the season is over. KG Achilles problems, he won't be with us.

"Maybe JC (Jamilu Collins) might not be with us with groin problem. (Ryan) Wintle has the problem with his ankle. The other ones, (Aaron) Ramsey, (Jak) Alnwick, (Kion) Etete - (Callum) Robinson and Josh Bowler are sick. Available players this weekend, it looks like 13 or 14.

"Today I get a report from the medical staff. Started yesterday, the sickness for Robbo and Josh. I hope tomorrow they feel better and can train with us. For now it looks not so well for us. So we will have four or five U21s with us to fill the squad."

Ng, in particular, is a big blow for these final three games. The right-back is the club's joint top-scorer this season alongside Karlan Grant, with six goals, and has arguably been the most consistent performer across the campaign.

"He has played 43 games," Bulut added. "The pain he has is already playing three or four weeks like this. Not only him. We have small details always. I also have to put a thanks to some players who played with small injuries and pains the last three or four games. From there you can see how much you can focus on that to get more points.

"At the end he cannot push any more to help the team. But many players have tried really hard with small injuries. KG (Grant), JC, Ng, Rallsy (Joe Ralls), Wints (Wintle), Sio (Manolis Siopis), Dimi (Dimitrios Goutas), Nat (Phillips). But we don't have a squad to replace players."

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It's hardly ideal, far from it, in fact, but at the very least it offers youngsters the opportunity to get some game time. The likes of Cian Ashford, Joel Colwill, Raheem Conte, Cameron Antwi and Dylan Lawlor have all been involved with the first team in recent weeks.

"I say always, if I have 11 players who can play, we will give our best to show our best," he added. "Even if it's with youngsters. We have used youngsters and seen how they adapt. At the weekend we can use two or three more and we have three more games to see if they can adapt at that level. It will be good for them for next season.

"In one way it's positive for youngsters, but a negative for the team."