Chambers 'loving' midfield return as derby looms

Calum Chambers scored his first goal for Cardiff with a superb strike at Middlesbrough last month

When Calum Chambers lines up for Cardiff City against arch rivals Swansea City on Saturday, he will be able to call on derby experience that extends beyond this season's reverse fixture.

The England international has played in north London derbies for Arsenal and he scored for Fulham against Chelsea in 2019.

That goal was one of the highlights of a loan spell in which Chambers was voted Fulham's player of the season, a particularly impressive feat having moved from defence into midfield.

Despite flourishing in that holding role, however, Chambers has spent the rest of his career almost exclusively in defence.

Now, six years on from his success at Craven Cottage, the 29-year-old is back in midfield with Cardiff.

Chambers, who joined from Aston Villa last summer, made his first 20 appearances for the Championship side at centre-back, but switched to central midfield at the end of December.

"I've been loving it," Chambers says. "It's always a position I've felt I could play throughout my career.

"I had an opportunity to do it at Fulham and had a good run at it. I loved playing there. I think the position suits me and what I can bring to the game. It's definitely something I'm enjoying."

That has been evident in the matches Cardiff have selected Chambers in midfield, with the Bluebirds unbeaten in four – their second-longest such run in what has otherwise been a draining season towards the bottom of the Championship.

Chambers has made the move seamlessly, combining his defensive sensibilities and ability to read the game with a composure in possession.

"I have learned from my experiences of playing at centre-back what I would want from a midfielder playing in front of me," Chambers adds.

"I've taken that into my role there. I like to get about, break up play, get involved going forward and link up between defence and attack."

So although he has spent the majority of his career in defence, is midfield his favourite position?

"Definitely," he says. "Players do say that [they'd play anywhere] but I do feel players do have a preference and midfield is where I like to play."

Having come through the youth ranks at Southampton, a 19-year-old Chambers earned a £16m move to Arsenal in 2014 and made his senior England debut later that year.

After a promising start to his career at centre-back and right-back, his progress stalled at Arsenal before spending the 2018-19 season on loan at Fulham, which would prove to be his only sustained period of senior football in midfield – until he joined Cardiff.

"It is strange, quite disappointing. It [playing in midfield] is something I wanted to do after that season," Chambers says.

"I was disappointed it didn't happen for me. I went back to Arsenal in a ready good way but didn't get the chances in that position, which was frustrating. It's stuff you've got to deal with it. It's nice to have that chance again."

Chambers will be in the thick of things on Saturday, taking on a Swansea side whose possession-based style means the midfield battle will take on added significance.

And having played in last August's 1-1 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium, Chambers is bracing himself for his first taste of a south Wales derby in Cardiff.

"Playing at home is lovely, especially in a derby, it's got that extra special feel to it," he says.

"There's that extra edge to the game. I scored in the Fulham-Chelsea one, which was nice. They're great fixtures to be involved in.

"It's exciting. All the lads are look forward to this game, you can feel a buzz around the city. I'm really looking forward to it."