Perry Ng: Defender could start for Cardiff City against Stoke
- Published
Perry Ng is the Cardiff's joint top scorer this season with Kion Etete, despite playing mainly as a right back
Influential Cardiff City defender Perry Ng could start Saturday's home Championship game against Stoke City.
Club captain Joe Ralls could also feature as the Bluebirds look for their first home win since early December.
Ng and Ralls were unused substitutes during Tuesday's night's 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
"He (Ng) was not ready 90 minutes because of his hips," said manager Erol Bulut.
"Also Joe Ralls may be could have had 20 minutes. But I did not want to take that risk that something could happen to lose him for more weeks."
Ng missed the 4-1 thrashing at Norwich last weekend, while Ralls started at Carrow Road.
With Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey now sidelined for a month with a tendon issue, Bulut is wary of taking chances over the fitness of players.
Ng has been arguably Cardiff's best player this season, chipping in with five goals from defence.
The Bluebirds have not scored at home in more than six-and-a-half hours of football.
Ralls, the longest-serving Cardiff player, adds drive and bite in midfield.
Bulut said: "We already have many injuries to main players that we could not use. So I always have to be careful of that.
"But I think Perry will be OK for the weekend."
The Cardiff boss felt the performance in the drab draw with Blackburn was improved and wants to build on that against the Potters, who are 19th, five places and six points below Cardiff in the Championship table.
Bulut said: "Confidence is very important. [Against Blackburn] we got back a little bit with more positive things.
"With more confidence at the weekend against Stoke, I hope with the really big support again from our fans to give them three points and everybody will be happy at the weekend."
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