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Glen Williams

Cardiff City have released the shackles and still have two exciting attacking weapons to return

When WalesOnline put it to interim Cardiff City boss Mark Hudson that this management lark was easy, owing to his unbeaten start in the dugout, his response was one you would expect: "Let's not get carried away."

That is sage advice, of course, especially for seasoned Bluebirds supporters who have spent nearly all of the last two decades watching their team in the second tier of English football.

But what is also true is that this league is brutal and rarely affords you a brief respite of positivity, so it is important to grab on to it while you can.

READ MORE: West Brom plight made more bizarre as stars shine in Cardiff shirts and the bonkers decision that was made

Mark Hudson would have bitten your hand off if you had offered him two wins and a draw in his first three games as interim charge of the club he adores, Cardiff City. No doubt every fan would have, too.

A quick glance at the stats will tell you very little has changed. People within the game pore over the numbers and, of course, there is merit in that. But from sheer feel and watching the game, it just looks like City have loosened the shackles a little.

Cardiff seem to be getting the ball forward far more quickly since Hudson took the reins. They appear to be making more use of the channels, Ryan Allsop is using a far better mix of playing short and playing long and there is less dithering in the middle of the park.

Callum Robinson has been a key part of that. He has been able to come short and receive it to feet off the midfielders, while his link-up play with his wingers has also moved Cardiff up the field far more quickly.

Suddenly, Cardiff look to be posing far more of a threat, are getting on the end of crosses and are firing off fewer aimless shots from 25 yards out - which had started to creep into their game earlier in the season as they struggled to pick apart opposition defences.

The exciting part of all of this is that this improvement is happening without two of Cardiff's most exciting young players.

Rubin Colwill, for many supporters' money the biggest attacking threat the club has in their ranks, has had only a bit-part to play so far this season owing to injury niggles which have plagued him for months.

He also sustained a hip-flexor injury the day he returned from Wales camp, a problem which is set to sideline him for another couple of weeks, making him a doubt for the South Wales derby clash with Swansea City.

Cardiff believe Colwill to be their best asset in transition, being able to turn defence into attack with his fleetness of both foot and mind. The fact he has barely been able to make an impact this season so far bodes well for the back half of the campaign.

The 20-year-old has shown for both club and country over the last year just what an asset he can be and, without getting too far ahead of ourselves, he really could make a serious difference in this new-look Cardiff team when it comes to the business end of the campaign.

And then there is Isaak Davies, of course, who hasn't even been able to lace up his boots this year owing to a knee injury which dates back right to the beginning of summer.

Last week he took his protective leg brace off and appears to be making slow, but steady, progress. The only concern is that he has now missed the last two pre-seasons due to injuries and, at his tender age of 21, fans will hope that does not catch up with him or hinder his most prized asset; his pace.

With Robinson and Callum O'Dowda seemingly nailed on in those starting berths at the top of the pitch, there is some debate over who takes the other attacking spot. Mark Harris has stepped up markedly in recent weeks and at the minute, that shirt is his.

Sheyi Ojo and Jaden Philogene have both shown flashes of quality, but one suspects Davies, one of Cardiff's most exciting academy graduates in recent years, will be muscling them all out of the way when he is back fit as he bids to make an impact this term.

Cardiff must remain grounded and with Hudson at the helm, even in a temporary capacity, that seems to be the case. But there is real cause for optimism as we look forward and as Cardiff find themselves in a positive period of form and just punching distance from the play-offs.

The Bluebirds were perhaps criticised for being overly cautious or laboured in their build-up play at the start of the campaign but there are really encouraging signs that is all changing under Hudson's leadership. Lest we forget, we've not seen Ebou Adams this season yet, either, and he is going to bring bags of energy and go-forward in that midfield when he is back out on the pitch. He'll have a point to prove, too.

But this is the sort of Cardiff that fans have been wishing to see all season, believing they had the capability, players and quality to do so. A few minor tweaks and a shot in the arm for a couple of players have seen that happen. And there is, one hopes, more to come when the potential jewels in their crown return.

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