‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 7:31 am
And in full training 
Been training now for two weeks
Mick McCarthy's glowing verdict of Cardiff City's forgotten man who has just returned to training after 18-month nightmare
The Bluebirds manager has finally given some timely injury news for one man who has endured rotten luck since he joined the Welsh outfit in the summer of 2019
By Glen Williams
Friday 2nd April 2021
There was a time when Isaac Vassell was standing at the foothill of a mountain of rehabilitation.
It must have felt like sliding halfway down Everest when he smashed a hurdle at Leckwith after trudging off following another setback during an under-23s game just over a year ago.
All had gone quiet since then. He has not kicked a football in a match in over a year and has not featured at senior level since August 27, 2019 - a 3-0 Carabao Cup drubbing by his former club Luton Town.
In truth, he had become something of a forgotten man at the club. Few envisaged he would ever return to play in a Cardiff City shirt.
But, over the last two weeks, the first glimmers of hope have emerged.
Manager Mick McCarthy revealed that during the international break the 27-year-old striker had trained with the first team and, well, he impressed.
"He has trained this week with us, fully, he trained last week as well," McCarthy said.
"He feels great. He is looking good in training, I'm delighted. I told him how much I'd like to have him back fully fit."
McCarthy's admiration stems from way before the last two weeks.
In fact, it dates back to his days in charge of Ipswich Town, when he was preparing the Tractor Boys to face Luton Town in the FA Cup back in 2017 and an in-form Vassell was fresh off the back of a hat-trick.
That four-year-old story, McCarthy says, should be Vassell's motivation.
MICK McCARTHY:
"I told him a story about how we were due to play Luton Town in the Cup when I was at Ipswich, so four years ago, and he had just scored an unbelievable hat-trick, I think it was against Yeovil," McCarthy recalled.
"We were planning on how to deal with Isaac Vassell. Anyway, they sold him to Birmingham on the Monday, so I was thrilled to see the back of him. And we beat Luton in the Cup!
"So I told him that story and I told him if he can reproduce the form he had there, why would I not want him back?
"So fingers crossed for him, never mind the club and the team. He has had a terrible time of it with injuries and it would be lovely to see him back."
Striker is certainly a position which will need some rejigging in the summer.
Quite whether Robert Glatzel fits into McCarthy's plans remains to be seen, while Max Watters and Mark Harris have been afforded scarce game-time between them.
While it is, of course, heartening to learn that Vassell, who has endured the most rotten of luck with injuries, is back up and running, his future at the club remains shrouded in mystery.
This is certainly the most positive news we have heard about the player in some time and it looks McCarthy is a real fan. In fact, he would love nothing more than for Vassell to be fit and firing for pre-season and to force his way right into contention for the start of next season.
When asked if he thought Vassell could at least feature for the under-23s in the coming weeks, McCarthy replied: "I don't know. I've not had that discussion.
MICK McCARTHY:
"We have not been planning for him to be playing. He has just come back and has been training really well.
"Because of the amount of injuries he has had, we will take it very, very slowly with him.
"If it ended up being that he was back for pre-season fully fit, I'd take that."
Been training now for two weeks
Mick McCarthy's glowing verdict of Cardiff City's forgotten man who has just returned to training after 18-month nightmare
The Bluebirds manager has finally given some timely injury news for one man who has endured rotten luck since he joined the Welsh outfit in the summer of 2019
By Glen Williams
Friday 2nd April 2021
There was a time when Isaac Vassell was standing at the foothill of a mountain of rehabilitation.
It must have felt like sliding halfway down Everest when he smashed a hurdle at Leckwith after trudging off following another setback during an under-23s game just over a year ago.
All had gone quiet since then. He has not kicked a football in a match in over a year and has not featured at senior level since August 27, 2019 - a 3-0 Carabao Cup drubbing by his former club Luton Town.
In truth, he had become something of a forgotten man at the club. Few envisaged he would ever return to play in a Cardiff City shirt.
But, over the last two weeks, the first glimmers of hope have emerged.
Manager Mick McCarthy revealed that during the international break the 27-year-old striker had trained with the first team and, well, he impressed.
"He has trained this week with us, fully, he trained last week as well," McCarthy said.
"He feels great. He is looking good in training, I'm delighted. I told him how much I'd like to have him back fully fit."
McCarthy's admiration stems from way before the last two weeks.
In fact, it dates back to his days in charge of Ipswich Town, when he was preparing the Tractor Boys to face Luton Town in the FA Cup back in 2017 and an in-form Vassell was fresh off the back of a hat-trick.
That four-year-old story, McCarthy says, should be Vassell's motivation.
MICK McCARTHY:
"I told him a story about how we were due to play Luton Town in the Cup when I was at Ipswich, so four years ago, and he had just scored an unbelievable hat-trick, I think it was against Yeovil," McCarthy recalled.
"We were planning on how to deal with Isaac Vassell. Anyway, they sold him to Birmingham on the Monday, so I was thrilled to see the back of him. And we beat Luton in the Cup!
"So I told him that story and I told him if he can reproduce the form he had there, why would I not want him back?
"So fingers crossed for him, never mind the club and the team. He has had a terrible time of it with injuries and it would be lovely to see him back."
Striker is certainly a position which will need some rejigging in the summer.
Quite whether Robert Glatzel fits into McCarthy's plans remains to be seen, while Max Watters and Mark Harris have been afforded scarce game-time between them.
While it is, of course, heartening to learn that Vassell, who has endured the most rotten of luck with injuries, is back up and running, his future at the club remains shrouded in mystery.
This is certainly the most positive news we have heard about the player in some time and it looks McCarthy is a real fan. In fact, he would love nothing more than for Vassell to be fit and firing for pre-season and to force his way right into contention for the start of next season.
When asked if he thought Vassell could at least feature for the under-23s in the coming weeks, McCarthy replied: "I don't know. I've not had that discussion.
MICK McCARTHY:
"We have not been planning for him to be playing. He has just come back and has been training really well.
"Because of the amount of injuries he has had, we will take it very, very slowly with him.
"If it ended up being that he was back for pre-season fully fit, I'd take that."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 7:38 am
You can see why MM is so respected amount players. His man management skills are amazing.
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 7:39 am
AfricanBluebird wrote:You can see why MM is so respected amount players. His man management skills are amazing.
100%
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:04 am
Its positive man management and I really feel for this lad as his career has been wrecked by injury However, there is no sentiment in football I hope McCarthy has loaned him out or terminated his contract this summer.
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:16 am
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=221411
Its not man management,its fan management.The man couldn't buy a friend on here until big Mick spoke.
Its not man management,its fan management.The man couldn't buy a friend on here until big Mick spoke.
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:47 am
He is definitely due some luck and he would be a great option for Mick. But we can't rely on him staying fit. Even if he's fit for preseason, I still hope we bring in another striker as backup for Moore.
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:06 am
Reply FB:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:58 am
EastleighBlue wrote:Its positive man management and I really feel for this lad as his career has been wrecked by injury However, there is no sentiment in football I hope McCarthy has loaned him out or terminated his contract this summer.
whats with this terminate his contract thing.... the whole point of having a contract if your a player is security
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:38 am
Sneggyblubird wrote:https://cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=221411
Its not man management,its fan management.The man couldn't buy a friend on here until big Mick spoke.
well im rooting for him... another injury and i think its end of career at 27....
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:49 am
skidemin wrote:Sneggyblubird wrote:https://cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=221411
Its not man management,its fan management.The man couldn't buy a friend on here until big Mick spoke.
well im rooting for him... another injury and i think its end of career at 27....
I’m rooting for him too and totally agree with your sentiments and also with your comment before this
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:01 pm
Except he is not really back he is just in training and if past history is anything to go by he will be injured in training and out for six months. Really stupid signing in the first place. God knows how much money it has cost us.
Re: ‘ Cardiff City’s Forgotten Striker is back ‘
Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:37 pm
Crayfish wrote:Except he is not really back he is just in training and if past history is anything to go by he will be injured in training and out for six months. Really stupid signing in the first place. God knows how much money it has cost us.
he had recovered from his previous injury 6 months prior to signing.. passed a medical. played and scored... so how far do you go ? not sign anyone who has ever been injured ? should we not sign Rambo if we were able to ?