Colwill in form of his life at resurgent Cardiff

Rubin Colwill smiles after scoring for CardiffImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
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Rubin Colwill has nine Wales caps and was part of squads for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup

Rubin Colwill believes Cardiff City's resurgence is helping him to play the best football of his career.

Following their relegation from the Championship last season, Cardiff have made an impressive start to life in League One as they sit top of the table after 12 games, ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton Wanderers (12:30 BST).

Attacking midfielder Colwill, 23, has played a starring role with three goals and three assists, earning him a recall to the Wales squad earlier this month.

"It's a nice fresh feeling. I think the energy around the club is definitely changing and it's exciting times," said Colwill.

"I think I've got a lot more to show, like the team really. I think we've started really well but there's so much more to come from us.

"Some of the games have gone really well. It's just about showing that for longer periods every week. It's exciting and I'm enjoying improving myself and as a collective."

Colwill has been touted as a star of the future since he broke into Cardiff's first team as an 18-year-old in 2021, the same year he made his Wales debut.

But since then, a combination of injuries, inconsistent form and managerial upheaval at Cardiff have interrupted his progress.

Colwill is now enjoying a sustained run in the first team and, having been appointed vice-captain for this season, he appears to be thriving with the added responsibility.

Asked if this represents the best form of his life, Colwill said: "I think probably what I'm showing on Saturday, yeah.

"Form's a funny thing. I think sometimes you can be in a good place with your football and then probably don't get to show on a Saturday for whatever reason.

"But I think the way I've been playing on the Saturday is definitely the best I've had for the period of the 10-12 games we've had this whole season."

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Rubin Colwill: I'm trying to push myself as much as I can

That consistency has been integral to his return to the Wales squad.

Colwill had been overlooked for most of Craig Bellamy's first year as head coach, prompting some anger among Cardiff fans.

But Colwill was one of five Bluebirds in the Wales squad earlier this month – a sharp contrast to the beginning of the country's World Cup qualifying campaign in March, when there were none.

"It's lovely to be back involved," said Colwill. "It's nice to be back in the mix with a load of the younger Cardiff lads, and hopefully it's going to be that way for a long time.

"There's definitely a really big similarity [between Cardiff and Wales]. I think the feeling of both styles of play is very similar so it's a lot easier and smoother to go between the two."

Colwill has clearly taken to the more enterprising approach Cardiff have adopted since appointing Brian Barry-Murphy as head coach in the summer.

Like Bellamy, Barry-Murphy wants his teams to get forward and dominate games, as well as demanding that they work hard off the ball and press opponents.

But the biggest change at Cardiff has been the results, where winning regularly this season has been a refreshing antidote to the constant relegation battles of recent years.

"It's definitely a change, something I can definitely get used to compared to what we've previously had," said Colwill.

"At the time relegation seemed like the worst thing in the world. Obviously last season wasn't great, but I think in the bigger picture sometimes stuff like that can be a positive.

"We've almost taken a step back to hopefully take two steps forward. Definitely the energy change within the dressing room, within the training ground and also around the club, the positivity in the stadium and just in general, it's definitely going in the right direction.

"I think for those boys who probably don't know the club as well as I do, it's nice to see them having a positive experience like I've had for so many years here, to see everyone behind us, everyone in the stadium, around the club, and just to show Cardiff really in its best light is nice."