Matt Connolly has a crucial role to play during Cardiff City’s Championship run-in.

The Bluebirds have 12 fixtures to play and manager Neil Warnock will turn to the experienced Connolly more and more.

Sol Bamba, Sean Morrison and Bruno Manga have played starring roles for City this season, but none of them have Connolly’s Championship knowhow and knowledge

The consistently effective defender has helped four different clubs earn promotion to the Premiership – and three of them won the Championship title.

Former Cardiff player of the year Connolly has made only three league appearances this season, but played a key role in 1-0 wins and clean sheets against Ipswich Town and Bristol City.

Queens Park Rangers (2011), Reading (2012) and Cardiff (2013) were all crowned champions, earning 88, 89 and 87 points respectively.

Connolly then joined Watford on loan during 2014-15 and they went up automatically, earning 89 points to finish one behind title winners Bournemouth.

Those promotion successes suggest that Warnock’s boys need seven wins from the dozen matches left, starting at Brentford on Saturday, to be in with a genuine chance of a top two finish.

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved in some extremely good squads and worked with good managers,” says Connolly.

“I’ve had some great experiences and hopefully we can enjoy more successes between now and May.”

His boyhood idols Arsenal who spotted an eight-year-old Connolly and, at the age of 19, he made two first team appearances, against West Brom and Liverpool in League Cup ties.

“I’m an Arsenal fan,” he says. “It was a dream come true as a youngster. Arsenal gave me a great platform to build on and develop into a professional footballer.

“I was training with the first team as a teenager alongside Henry, Febregas and Bergkamp.”

Connolly has had limited Premiership experience, making six appearances under Warnock at Rangers and three for the Bluebirds.

The vast majority of his career has been spent in the second tier – and how he would love to help Warnock earn an eighth promotion as manager.

The input from 30-year-old Connolly in training and during matches is going to be crucial. He knows more than any other player in the squad about the pressures which emerge during the later stages of a promotion push.

Cardiff City’s remaining Championship fixtures 2017-18

March

Saturday 3 v Brentford (away, 3pm)

Tuesday 6 v Barnsley (home, 7.45pm)

Saturday 10 v Birmingham City (home, 3pm)

Sunday 18 v Derby County (away, noon)

Friday 30 v Burton Albion (home, 3pm)

April

Monday 2 v Sheffield United (away, 7.45pm)

Friday 6 v Wolves (home, 7.45pm)

Tuesday 10 v Aston Villa (away, 7.45pm)

Saturday 14 v Norwich City (away, 3pm)

Saturday 21 v Nottingham Forest (home, 3pm)

Saturday 28 v Hull City (away, 3pm)

May

Sunday 6 v Reading (home, 12.30pm)

Championship – top five