Big Ben Returns To Face Bluebirds In Carabao Cup

Former Bluebirds defender Ben Turner returns to Cardiff City Stadium for tonight’s Carabao Cup second round tie.

Turner plays for Burton Albion and goes head-to-head with Cardiff’s new striker Omar Bogle.

Big centre-half Turner has completed a five-game suspension and missed the Championship clash with Cardiff on the opening day of the season.

“We still think the punishment was unjust for Ben, that will never change,” Burton boss Nigel Clough said. “But he’s back now and he’ll start at Cardiff.”

Turner was fined and suspended by the Football Association after being found guilty of misconduct following a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words towards an opposing player.

Bogle looks certain to make his City debut following his £700,000-plus transfer from Wigan Athletic.

Brian Murphy, Bruno Manga, Greg Halford, Matthew Kennedy and Danny Ward were all in the starting line-up for Cardiff’s 2-1 home win against Portsmouth in the first round and will be involved again.

Burton are without midfield player Hope Akpan, who is suspended, but new signing Sean Scannell will start.

Cardiff have started the season with five successive league and cup wins, scoring 10 goals and conceding two. Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has kept three clean sheets in the Championship.

“Our fans get carried away, they are in cuckoo land at times because they haven’t seen this for a while,” said manager Neil Warnock.

“So let’s enjoy it, I am going to.”

Victory for the Bluebirds will mean a broken night’s sleep for supporters on Wednesday. The third round draw is being made in Beijing, China at 4.15am British Standard Time

The seven Premier League sides playing in Europe will be among the 32 clubs in the draw, including last season’s winners Manchester United.

The 16 fixtures for a competition sponsored by Thai energy drink company Carabao will be played in the week starting September 18.

Cardiff City are also at home this Saturday when Queens Park Rangers are the visitors in the Championship (3pm).

Cardiff City, probable: (4-4-2) Murphy, Halford, Morrison (capt), Manga, Richards; Kennedy, O’Keefe, Ralls or Damour, Tomlin, Ward, Bogle. Bench, from: Etheridge, Bamba, Coxe, Ralls or Damour, Hoilett, Mendez Laing, Zohore.

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