With 31 Championship appearances so far this season, Cardiff City midfielder Roe Ralls has become a key figure for manager Neil Warnock. Only Sean Morrison has played more games. Josh Thomas assesses his impact for the Bluebirds.

 

Still only 23 and having established himself as a regular under Neil Warnock, Joe Ralls can go all the way to the top.

Since the turn of the year, Ralls has been in fine form. Having been nominated for the Championship player of the month for January, he contributed with crucial goals which continued into February. Once a rare finisher, he has scored three goals in 12 games after previously scoring just twice goals in his previous 18 appearances.

Ralls is pulling the strings in midfield and his confidence is growing with each game. He is developing into one the best young talents outside the Premier League. After signing a new long term contract with City in 2015 manager at the time Russell Slade said of Ralls, “He always wanted to stay, he’s enjoying it here. He’s young, but maturing. I’m delighted to secure him for a long time.”

But his journey has featured a few twists and turns along the way to convincing managers he could be a key component. The Aldershot-born player began his career with Aldershot Town before joining up with Farnborough, then signing up with Cardiff City.

Aiden Whelan, his former coach at Farnborough said this regarding his departure, “We realised from when he first joined us that he has a real talent. He was head and shoulders above players at the same age level.”

But back in 2011 City were in turmoil after sacking Dave Jones and most high profile players left, leaving a squad very limited in its selection. Malky Mackay was the man to take over the reins and after a long summer he gave the young midfielder Ralls his debut as a substitute in the League Cup against Oxford on the 10th August 2011.

A couple of weeks after his making his first appearance, Ralls was back in the first team yet again in the League Cup against Huddersfield Town – this time making his first start where there were glimpses of his potential. Mackay said: “He is the future for Cardiff City.” Ralls then made his League debut against Hull City, coming on as a second half substitute and scoring what his manager described as “a blinding goal”.

After a productive first season, Ralls was part of the 2012/13 Championship winning season before going out on loan to Yeovil Town for the 2013/14 campaign to help improve his development.

Ralls himself said he was happy enough with his loan and said:  “I’ve had to come out on loan to get games because I need to be playing at this stage of my career.” During his spell away from the Bluebirds, he claimed: “My move to Yeovil has worked out really well and I know I’ll improve my game here before I return to Cardiff.”

He was true to his word, excelling for Yeovil after getting regular game time under his belt and scoring three goals in 38 appearances. Overall, though, it was a disappointing season for the Glovers who went back down from the Championship just one season after being promoted.

Now, back at Cardiff, Ralls has become one of the prominent figures in Warnock’s starting team. After winning two successful young player of the year awards, he has now become one of the first players on the team sheet, delivering top quality performances week-in, week-out.

Ralls typifies the new spirit and optimism at present and there is no reason why he shouldn’t continue to play a major part in trying to drive the club back towards the Premier League.

He says: “I’ve lived here and been around the football club for ages and I love it here.”

Now one of the club’s longest-serving present day players, Ralls looks likely to become an inspirational and instrumental member of Cardiff’s squad for years to come.