Josh Bowler:

Hi Josh, how are you?

Josh Bowler: "All good! Feeling good. Team morale is good, body is good. That little injury was annoying more than anything. I’m definitely feeling good now."


Is this a top six side?

JB: "Definitely. Good players, good manager and good coaching staff. We need to put games together more consistently."

You must be champing at the bit to respond after Norwich?

JB:"Definitely. Norwich was a tough one to take. Two-week gap after that is a tough one. You want a game straight away to put it right. But it’s made us more hungry. We have had two weeks of good training."

Cardiff currently in 9th - you'd have taken that at the start of the season?

JB: "Of course. But then you look at games you dropped points, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, you take positives but you look forward and set your sights on that."

Of course, the Championship is a topsy-turvy league...

JB:"Yeah, that’s the league! This Christmas period, you’re playing 9 games in 30 days, you go on runs, losing streaks, but we have to make sure we go on those winning runs.

"These games (PNE), you’ve got to win, nick a point and stay on those winning runs."

How has it been working under Bulut?



JB: "He’s great. He’s played at the top level and that’s really important for a manager. He sets the tone, the standard, he knows what the tempo should be and he doesn’t let it slip.

"Our training is of a high standard and we take that into games."

Would the club benefit from bringing in more quality in January?

JB: "That’s down to the club. Our squad is really good, but in the Championship it’s relentless. So many games in so few days.

"More quality is always welcome but we have got a lot of belief in the squad."

Your aims?

JB: "My ultimate goal is just to play as good as I can. Wherever that takes me it takes me.

"Everyone’s goal is to play in the Premier League. As long as I put in those performances, I’ll see where that takes me."

At Everton, what did you think was going to happen?

JB: "Tough question. It was a surreal moment. A big club, I grew up at QPR. Things have been up and down. I don’t really know what I expected, I just wanted to give up my best."

Everyone wants to be a Premier League footballer, you must have thought that was your moment?




JB:"Of course. That’s the aim. It just didn’t click at Everton, that experience was great for me. Moving away from my family at 18. I didn’t make my debut there but it was a great experience.

I moved to Everton, Forest, it’s been up and down. The type of player I am, it’s going to be hit and miss, I won’t back down from that. Consistency is tough. I think it’s coming with age. I think my time can come.

It’s really tough to be confident. You can say you are, but you can lie to yourself. I am so happy to be here because the gaffer, the boys are incredible. Whilst I am here and getting the confidence I am flourishing."

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Cardiff City press conference Live: Breaking team news and injury updates ahead of Preston North End

The Bluebirds are back in Championship action following the international break

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ByGlen Williams
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Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut (Image: Getty Images)
Cardiff City return to action this weekend as they make the trip to Lancashire to take on Preston North End.

The Bluebirds finished the run-up to this latest break in frustrating fashion, relinquishing a 2-1 lead at home to Norwich City to fall to a 3-2 defeat. But Erol Bulut's side sit in a health ninth position, four points and four places behind Saturday's opponents.

Bulut will give the latest updates on all injury concerns, including how Manolis Siopis is faring after he was omitted from the squad from both of Greece's games during the international break with a reported knee issue. We are likely to get updates on Aaron Ramsey, who travelled with Wales to Armenia on a watching brief last weekend, and Callum O'Dowda, too.

Scroll down for live updates...

READ MORE: Erol Bulut admits Kieffer Moore interest and Cardiff star sparks major injury worry

READ MORE: Axed Cardiff City player Jack Simpson issues public apology as he hopes to save career

15:10JOHN JONES
Now it's time to hear from Bulut

Here comes the boss - let's hear what he has to say.



15:09JOHN JONES
Those must have been some lonely times...

JB:"Yeah, it is difficult moving away at 18 and living on your own. There’s a lot of positives that come with it. There are definitely people in worse situations and use the people around you.

"I’ve got a dog that’s massive for me and keeps me company! That’s just football and I’m used to it now."