Brighton reject Cardiff City's bid for Craig Noone

Craig Noone played youth team football in Liverpool's and Wrexham's academy

Cardiff City have had a bid turned down for Brighton and Hove Albion winger Craig Noone.

The Bluebirds have made their first move in the January transfer window as the Welsh club apparently offered their Championship rivals around £500,000.

Now Cardiff boss Malky Mackay is considering whether to improve their bid for the 24-year-old.

"We've made a bid and it has been turned down," Mackay confirmed to BBC Sport.

Noone started his career at non-league Skelmersdale United in the 2005/06 season and ended up ended up at Plymouth via spells with Burscough and Southport.

Brighton signed the former Liverpool trainee from Plymouth Argyle in the 2011 January window and he scored two stunning goals as Gus Poyet's men romped to the League One title last season.

Noone, who impressed in man-of-the-match display in Brighton's 2-1 League Cup defeat to Liverpool earlier this term, still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Amex Stadium contract.

Noone did not play in Brighton's 1-1 FA Cup third round draw with Wrexham on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Mackay wants to bolster his options on the flanks as Scot Craig Conway is currently his only recognised winger now the Cardiff manager has moved Peter Whittingham into a playmaker role in the middle of the Bluebirds midfield.