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Glen Williams

Cardiff City star leaves training on crutches amid mixed injury fortunes for defenders

Cardiff City defender Alfie Doughty is back training ahead of schedule in a big boost for the Bluebirds, however striker Max Watters suffered a training-ground injury which left him in a protective boot and on crutches.

Doughty enjoyed a bright start in a Bluebirds shirt, turning out solid displays in the wins over Nottingham Forest and Barnsley, but fell victim to a shocking Mads Andersen challenge up at Oakwell.

He suffered damage to his ankle ligaments, which, originally, looked likely to sideline him for up to six weeks.

But, two-and-a-half weeks later, the Stoke City loanee is back on the training ground and ahead of his scheduled return.

"You put the parameters in place and try to hit the earliest timeframe you can," Morison said.

"He settled down quite quickly. He is young so that helps.

"He is out on the grass, he has been doing a little bit. You have these injuries and it looks OK, then you go to strike a ball and he can’t strike a ball and that's the worst bit of it.

"He can run and all that but he couldn’t kick a ball, but he trained yesterday for the first time so that’s a plus point."

READ MORE: All the latest Cardiff City news, views, features and opinion here

Fortunately for Cardiff, the man in Doughty's place at the minute, Joel Bagan, is playing out of his skin and will keep that left-back slot warm for the time being.

It's less good news for Watters, though, who after holding positive talks with Steve Morison rolled his ankle in training while challenging Oliver Denham for a header in a small-sided game.

"Max Watters hurt himself in training yesterday, which was frustrating," Morison said.

"He rolled his ankle and left on a boot and crutches. Hopefully that's just precautionary.

"He went for a header with Oli Denham and Oli fell on his ankle. It’s just life."

There is mixed news for the midfielders. Rubin Colwill has recovered from his foot problem - he struck the floor with his foot in training when going to volley a ball before Millwall last weekend - and he will be in contention for the Blackpool game this weekend.

Leandro Bacuna, meanwhile, has suffered an injury which has put him to the back of the midfield queue.

Bacuna has not played since he was red-carded against Bournemouth on December 30.

"He just needs to get himself fit," the boss added.

"He had a little bit of a hamstring injury. He came in for a few days but then dropped out again.

"He has been out and I don't think we will see him for at least the next couple of weeks. But there are so many midfielders in there now and people are doing well.

"When I had left him out I didn't change the squad, so he fully understood where he was."

It's clear that Bacuna has fallen down the pecking order. Since he last played, Joe Ralls, Ryan Wintle, Will Vaulks, Marlon Pack, Tommy Doyle, Colwill and Eli King have all had a run out in the middle of the park and appear to be in front of the midfielder.

Bacuna's contract is up at the end of the season.

And, lastly, as for Curtis Nelson, his calf injury continues to keep him out of the side. Morison confirmed he is still a "few weeks away" from returning to the first-team fray.

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