Flood warning for Boro- watch Chopra

Last updated : 06 March 2010 By Northern Echo

Flood is ideally placed to assess the merits of each club's star striker after spells with the Bluebirds and Celtic gave him a chance to watch both marksmen at close quarters.

McDonald is not expected to be rushed back into action this afternoon as he continues his rehabilitation from a hernia problem.

But former Newcastle and Sunderland marksman Chopra is looking to add to his tally of 17 goals this season to cement Cardiff's play-off position.

No-one in this region needs reminding how good a striker Michael Chopra is at this level, noted Flood.

There can't be many better in this division. It's very hard to compare one player with another. Chops has proven it over a number of years and at more than one club. Scott has done the same. Which one's better I would have to say Scott.

He's a top quality player and has more to his game than just being a finisher. We want him back fighting fit as soon as possible because he is a real threat.

There's a few of the lads who I played with still at the club and they are a very decent side.

Every year Cardiff seem to be there or thereabouts but manage to fall at the final hurdle.

They are a side with a goal threat and we must be aware of that, but we're confident we can hurt them too.

McDonald and Emanuel Pogatetz are rated as very doubtful to feature this afternoon, while Chris Killen and Barry Robson, who were on international duty in midweek, will be assessed before Gordon Strachan decides his starting XI.

First team coach Steve Agnew revealed that Chris Riggott and Rhys Williams are close to recall after edging back to fitness.

Agnew hailed the form of goalkeeper Danny Coyne, whose match-winning performances have ensured he's retained the number one slot despite Brad Jones' return from injury.

Jones' Premier League experience has not been sufficient to persuade Strachan he should drop the Wales international.

Having Brad available gives great competition for Danny, noted the coach. He made two saves last week that protected our lead. That type of thing could prove crucial to what happens to us come the end of the season. The one he made just before half-time was world-class.

It shows how well Danny has done when Brad hasn't been able to unseat him. He is a good presence to have behind the back four, he's vocal and a good organiser.

Danny is in pole position at the moment and the shirt is his to lose. If he continues as he's been performing it's going to be tough to drop him.

It is great to have Brad back.

There is no doubt that he was hurting after conceding the goals at St James' Park (in December). He's recovered from that setback and is champing at the bit to return.

As a team we're looking more solid. That should give the creative players the confidence to go out and express themselves. We are going to have to win games to guarantee ourselves a play-off place.

The foundations of that are clean sheets so I'm not overly concerned that we're not playing fast, free-flowing football.

The next two games will test our resilience. We have been a tougher nut to crack of late and we are no pushovers.

But Cardiff and Newcastle both have the type of players who can punish you in the final third and we are expecting these to be as hard as anything we've faced this season.

But we are ready for them.

Source: Northern Echo

Source: Northern Echo