'Unplayable' ex-Cardiff City favourite Kieffer Moore sends Wales World Cup message with two-goal Swansea City salvo

It's been a tough few months for Kieffer Moore.

A January move to high-flying Bournemouth was supposed to be the next step in an already impressive Championship career. In a Cardiff City side just outside the play-off reckoning last season, the 29-year-old still netted 20-odd goals - a tally that left him seemingly destined to one day step into the spotlight of the Premier League.

Moore was the first Cardiff player to strike 20 league goals in a decade. His importance to the Bluebirds was perhaps only matched by his prominence in the plans of Wales, whose boss Rob Page must have been quietly encouraged by a move that felt like a step towards top-flight football, an ambition that was always going to be beyond Cardiff's grasp this season.

But things haven't quite gone to plan for Moore since leaving the Bluebirds. He was forced off with a foot injury just four minutes into his debut against Birmingham back in February, keeping him on the treatment table for just over two months, ruling him out of the World Cup play-off semi-final with Austria and then the original date for the final with Scotland or Ukraine in the process.

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However, fate has taken a hand and Moore will be available for the re-arranged date of the final - with the big centre-forward may well feeling he has a point to prove.

Wales beat the Austrians comfortably enough without him, with Harry Wilson, Dan James and Gareth Bale occupying the more offensive positions in the team. With Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen needing to play, plus five at the back, something will need to give if Moore is to get back into the side for Wales' biggest game in years on June 5.

Howe