These are your Cardiff City headlines on Friday, December 16.
Bilic: Bacuna has a bit of everything
Watford boss Slaven Bilic says it was Leandro Bacuna's versatility that swung the capture of the former Bluebirds midfielder.
Bacuna this week signed on at Vicarage Road on a free contract having trained with the Hornets for the past few weeks. It came as something as a surprise considering how his time in the Welsh capital came to an end.
But Bilic is clearly a fan, saying he has "a bit of everything".
“He’s a player that you can tell on the plane or coach that he is playing, and he will play,” the Croatian explained.
“We’re short on midfielders and he’s been training with us, and with the current situation we are really short because of injuries and it’s top to have him. He was definitely the best option available, I like him as a player anyway. He’s proven, hungry and has a bit of everything. A really good midfield player.”
Owls boss makes McGuinness admission
Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore admits the three players he has on loan "have done really, really well" amid interest in Cardiff defender Mark McGuinness.
The former Arsenal man has been superb in League One this season, helping the Owls to third in the table, and Moore was asked at his press conference on Friday about his loan players' loan clauses, adding that he would look at their futures when the time comes Moore has previously made no secret of the fact he'd like to sign the centre-back permanently.
"You never know," he said. "Taking a loan player signals the player has not been playing and that there's an opportunity to recruit them to play for us in that opposition.
"We've got three loanees and have a look when it comes around to it. All three have done really, really well."
O'Dowda: Tough test
Callum O'Dowda says the pull of being at home in front of his own supporters should help Cardiff in their quest to beat Blackpool on Saturday.
The Bluebirds picked up a valuable point on the road last weekend in Stoke, and the winger hopes they can go one better when the Tangerines arrive in south Wales on Saturday.
"It's going to be tough," the Republic of Ireland international said. "I was looking at the fixtures and we've got three games in the space of a week coming up, so everyone is going to be needed.
"As players, it is tough on the bodies, but you wouldn't want it any other way, to be honest. The more games, the better.
"We need to go into the game positive, similar to how we were in the second half against Stoke. I'd say overall it was a positive display. The subs made such a difference, and second half I thought we dominated the game.
"We've been watching a few clips of them. Considering how they were last season, I know they're a tough team to beat. No game is easy in the Championship, everyone has got a fight within them.
"I feel better playing at home, with the home fans. They are the surroundings that we're used to, and we're due something. I know we've been a bit unfortunate over the last couple of months, and it's been quite hard to pick up a bit of momentum.
"But, going into these two games, especially at home, it will be beneficial to us. You can't give up at all, you can't lose concentration - you've just got to keep fighting."
Pato wanted by Hearts
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson admits the club are actively trying to sign former Cardiff favourite Callum Paterson.
Paterson is currently plying his trade in League One with Sheffield Wednesday and is out of contract at the end of the season. He has been in and out of the Owls team this term.
Neilson says they aren't putting all their eggs in one basket, though.
“He’s a player that we’re looking at at the moment, as we're looking at a number of players,” said the Hearts boss. “We don’t want to fully commit on one. We will add to the squad, but we’ll also move a few players on just to get the squad size down as well.”
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