Steve Morison has challenged his homegrown stars to match the levels of Cardiff's eye-catching Premier League loanees.
Tommy Doyle and Cody Drameh both produced sensational displays in City's 4-0 hammering of Peterborough United on Wednesday night, and have already garnered plenty of heavy praise from City fans.
The arrival of the Premier League duo, along with Jordan Hugill, Alfie Doughty and Uche Ikpeazu, has coincided with a run of three straight league wins for the Bluebirds, who are now 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
As well as helping his side win games, Morison is hopeful the new boys can help complement Cardiff's already swelling group of young talent coming through the ranks, adding that the touch of Premier League class will help set a benchmark for those players coming through.
"We talk about our young lads, but they're young lads as well," Morison said.
"So that's the difference in terms of we've brought that quality in and our young players, who we think are good players, have now got to get that level.
"That's the reality of it.
"That's why they're young pros at Premier League clubs and not Championship or League One clubs."
One man Morison believes is meeting the challenge head-on is Isaak Davies.
The 20-year-old produced a similarly tremendous performance on what was only his fourth league start of the season.
Indeed, Wednesday's showing was so impressive, one can't help but wonder if he might be at least part of the Wales conversation soon.
"Isaak, very, very quickly, is getting to that level," Morison continued.
"He was excellent. Didn't get a goal, but everything about his performance was fantastic.
"That is the level that any of our players, and you'll probably write something along the lines of me sending a message to all the under-23s players, but that is the level they need to get to.
"As good as they think they are. As good as they think they may have been.
"That's the level they've got to get to, week in, week out.
"Some will do it sporadically, but that tonight from the whole group was top drawer."
One youngster who is perhaps knocking on the door for more game-time is Rubin Colwill, who followed up his goal at Anfield with an assist on Wednesday night, teeing up January arrival Ikpeazu for Cardiff's fourth of the evening.
The positive impact from the bench this week, as well as the strong showings from Cardiff's fringe players at Liverpool, has clearly given Morison plenty of options going into the second half of the season, and he admits it could soon prove tricky to fit everyone in.
"I had to leave three people out of the squad today," he added. "One of them started against Liverpool. Max [Watters] started in the two previous wins. It's great.
"Uche came on. Obviously, the fans love him. He hasn't even really done anything but they still love him!
"He's had two 20-minute performances and the fans love him. But he's a loveable lad and the lads love having him around.
"He scored a really good goal. Rubin with the assist
"I told him that he has to start making assists and key passes.
"But I don't know if you heard me, I spent my whole time shouting at him to get back because that's what we want to see that game out.
"4-0, 3-0, we're not here to just play free, it's all done in a structure and I put him on for that last 10 minutes because that was a key moment in the game.
"You saw what happened with us at Stoke. It only takes one goal, to get your tail up.
"I took a risk in the fact I put him in and all the information me and my staff gave him was 'you've got to do your job first and then you'll have your moments off the back of it'.
"He got that moment. Perry Ng stepped in and gave him a lovely pass.
"Loads and loads of positives, but as it's the Championship we have 48 hours and we have to go again."
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