Josh Murphy's miserable season ends abruptly as Preston North End axe Cardiff City man over 'attitude' problem

Cardiff City winger Josh Murphy's miserable season has gone from bad to worse after his loan club Preston North End bombed him out of the squad with immediate effect, with reports citing "punctuality and attitude" problems.

The 27-year-old's campaign started with Mick McCarthy sanctioning a loan move to the Deepdale club, who were managed at the time by Murphy's former coach at Norwich City, Frankie McAvoy. But the player's season has lurched from one disappointment to the next, with lack of game-time and injuries blighting his stint with the Lancashire outfit.

And now, according to our sister title LancsLive, Murphy, along with Izzy Brown, has been released from the club with immediate effect. The publication adds that "punctuality is a factor behind their early exits, with attitude having not impressed either".

It has been a torrid season for the winger, who didn't start a single game the entire season and made only 12 substitute appearances in the league, all from the bench. He failed to register a single assist or goal during his time with the Lilywhites.

Neither player is training with Ryan Lowe's first team and it looks, to all intents and purposes, like their seasons have ended and they will have to look for new clubs.

When Cardiff boss Steve Morison was asked on Tuesday morning whether the reports were true, he said it was "the first I'd heard about it".

Murphy's contract at Cardiff is up in June and the club will not be taking up the option to offer the player fresh terms. Having signed for £11m from Norwich in 2018, the forward's time at the club will be viewed as a disappointment. He scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists in 99 appearances for the Bluebirds.