Why Cardiff took Will Alves gamble few others would as Leicester City starlet’s debut lauded
The teenager made his first appearance at his new loan club, coming on as a second-half substitute and playing through extra-time as the Bluebirds beat Stoke on penalties.
Cardiff City “took a punt” on Leicester City starlet Will Alves when many clubs would not have done so, and it already looks like paying off.
The Bluebirds handed Alves a debut off the bench in their FA Cup penalty shoot-out victory over Stoke on Saturday. Around 40 minutes on the pitch was all it took for Cardiff supporters to get excited over the 19-year-old.
Alves was introduced to the right wing but switched to the left and impressed with his dribbling, directness, and threat in the final third. He beat a couple of men and got a couple of shots away on what was only the sixth senior appearance of his career.
Journalist Paul Abbandonato wrote: “I’ve got to say my first impression of Alves is that he’s exactly what Cardiff have been crying out for. Fast, direct, skilful, ready to race to the byline.”
The teenager could now be a contender to start when Cardiff travel to fellow relegation battlers Portsmouth on Tuesday night. But he nearly didn’t get a chance to showcase himself in the division, Cardiff boss Omer Riza has suggested.
