New Cardiff skipper welcomes shift to youth

Cardiff City fielded their youngest starting XI this century in their opening day League One win over Peterborough

New Cardiff City captain Callum Chambers says the club's shift to youth has already drawn a line under their Championship relegation.

The Bluebirds are back in League One for the first time in more than two decades after failing to avoid the drop from the second-tier last season.

But they are up and running with a new eye-catching style of play in their new division under recently appointed head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

It is a fresh-faced Cardiff team too, with nine academy graduates involved in the opening day win over Peterborough and the starting XI boasting an average age of just 22.

"Everyone is really excited because the style and identity we have now works amazingly with the group and the players we have," said centre-back Chambers, who missed the weekend win through suspension but will return for Thursday's trip to Port Vale (20:00 BST).

"I was so excited to watch the [Peterborough] game because of how young the squad was. It's a really talented squad and I think that's what's exciting about the project ahead.

"There's a path going forward in the way we want to play and the vibe around the place is really good."

The junior Bluebirds buzzed in their first third-tier test, including stand-in skipper Rubin Colwill (23) and younger brother Joel (20), with the pair starting a league match together for the first time.

And while the likes of Cian Ashford (20), Joel Bagan (23), Eli King (22) and Isaak Davies (23) had tasted league action before, goalkeeper Matt Turner (23) and defenders Dylan Lawlor (19) and Ronan Kpakio (18) really seized their chance.

Now 30, former Arsenal defender Chambers can very much be considered a senior figure at Cardiff City Stadium, but has seen first-hand the value of placing faith in youth having come through a Southampton academy that produced a string of Premier League talents from Gareth Bale to James Ward-Prowse.

"I think it's just so important for every club to have that pathway," said Chambers, who was named new captain last week.

"At Southampton, it was so obviously there and you knew they wanted boys to come through and want them to do well.

"I was lucky enough to get that and I think it's clear there's one here which is great for the club."

Chambers said Barry-Murphy – a former academy coach at Manchester City – has promised to give opportunities based on the training ground work, with intensity levels "through the roof" as a result.

"The whole identity of the team, the way we train, the energy, the way we play has completely changed," he added.