Davies and Ikpeazu in: Is this Cardiff City’s best XI on paper when everyone is fully fit?

Cardiff City have had a bit of a turbulent 2021-22 season and they looked in deep trouble under Mick McCarthy in the opening few months of the campaign.

But Steve Morison entered the dugout in October and slowly but surely, the Welsh side have been showing the better side to their game – especially in the last couple of months.

A fresh injection of players to the squad in January has helped with that and Morison’s side look to be in a strong position going into the final few games of the season.

But is this the best Bluebirds starting 11 when everyone is fit and firing? Let’s take a look.

In some positions it was a hard call between certain players as Cardiff now have the kind of depth that they probably lacked in the first half of the campaign.

In-between the sticks, with 26 appearances to his name this season you’d have to favour Alex Smithies over his back-up Dillon Phillips, although both are solid choices at Championship level.

Last month Sean Morrison’s season was ended away at Barnsley thanks to a knee injury sustained, but if he’s fully-fit then the club captain walks straight back into the Bluebirds side, with Aden Flint and Mark McGuinness occupying the other two spots.

There is competition at both wing-back spots but loanees Cody Drameh and Alfie Doughty get the nod, although they both may not be at the club next season and the alternatives in Perry Ng and Joel Bagan are still developing as individuals.

Midfield is another area where there is now strength in depth, with the likes of Ryan Wintle, Marlon Pack and young starlet Rubin Colwill missing out here.

The defensive capabilities of Will Vaulks compliments the duo of Joe Ralls and Tommy Doyle though, with the latter a player who Morison will want to secure