Cardiff City boss Steve Morison makes transfer admission on Aston Villa star ahead of Preston North End clash

Cardiff City boss Steve Morison has admitted he tried to sign Aston Villa's Cameron Archer in the January window, shortly before the forward completed a loan move to Preston North End.

A striker was very much near the top of the Bluebirds' wishlist in the recent window even before the departure of Kieffer Moore, and Morison admits that the 20-year-old, who is now set to line up against the Bluebirds at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, was very much an option on the club's radar.

Archer has since gone on to be a key man for the Lilywhites, netting five goals in 10 games in the Championship since his arrival.

Speaking ahead of City's third clash of the season against Preston, Morison was full of praise for boss Ryan Lowe - and indeed his dealings in the transfer market, admitting that his team made a real attempt to wow Villa into sending Archer to the Welsh capital.

"Ryan's done great and they've made some good signings," Morison said. "Cameron Archer's a really good signing. Someone we were interested in as well.

"We had a conversation, like we had to do with all the loan players.

"We had to put presentations together for all of them and we did that for a couple of players at Aston Villa, and they decided to go to other teams.

"That was it. Not really any different to any conversations we've had with other players.

"He decided to go to Preston and that's about it."

As well as a recall for Max Watters, Cardiff brought striking duo Jordan Hugill and Uche Ikpeazu on board to bolster their forward options before the close of the winter window.

Both loanees have proved reasonably successful additions, along with the likes of Manchester City starlet Tommy Doyle, who is poised to return to first-team contention this weekend