Icelandic captain Aron Gunnarsson will be a key player for Cardiff City when they open their Premier League campaign at AFC Bournemouth next Saturday.
Gunnarsson, starting his eight season with the Bluebirds, looks certain to start alongside Joe Ralls in central midfield at Dean Court.
Former Coventry City player appeared in all three of Iceland’s at the World Cup finals in Russia and is in line to take centre stage against Bournemouth.
Manager Neil Warnock has missed out on signing Liverpool’s Marko Grujic and, with the transfer window closing next Thursd`y, time is short in the chase for new players.
"We’ve got a lot of leaders at this Club and that’s only a good thing."
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Warnock wants to sign two midfield players and a striker, all on loan, and he will be working flat out over the next six days in his recruitment drive.
Gunnarsson, though, believes Cardiff can follow the lead set by Bournemouth, Burnley and more by gaining a foothold at the top level.
“You look at the teams who have worked their way up like Bournemouth and Burnley, and it’s about creating a togetherness in the team to go that extra mile for success and I can see that in our players,” he says.
“They’re willing to go that extra mile and do anything to get that success and I’m hopeful we can stick together as a team and make that happen.
“It will be tough because we know how strong this league is, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and see how the team reacts.
“Maybe when we lose a couple of games in a row as that’s when the real character shows through and it’s down to us to react to that.
“The professionalism in this squad is second to none and we know what is expected of us. We know our strengths and we need to build on that. We’ve got a lot of leaders in our group and that’s only a good thing.”
Gunnarsson is due to play for the Bluebirds in their pre-season friendly against Seville-based Spanish club Real Betis at Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon (5.15pm).
Grujic looks certain to stay at Liverpool even if he is not named in their 25-man Premier League squad with any loan move hampered by ongoing contract negotiations at Anfield.
Cardiff City (v Real Betis, probable): Neil Etheridge or Alex Smithies, Greig Cunningham, Sean Morrison (capt), Sol Bamba, Joe Bennett, Josh Murphy, Joe Ralls, Aron Gunnarsson, Junior Hoilett, Bobby Reid, Kenneth Zohore.