It’s been a slow start for promising Wolves youngster Dion Sanderson while on loan at Cardiff City, but after making his debut on Tuesday, it seems as if he could well be featuring again.
Neil Harris’ side slumped to a 1-0 loss at the Cardiff City Stadium, yet Sanderson – predominantly a centre-back – filled in by starting at right-back after a Jazz Richards injury, and managed to make a lasting impression despite not being able to keep a clean sheet.
Sanderson joined during the January transfer window but made his debut for the club just yesterday. That might not be what the defender had signed up for, but at just 20, being on the periphery of a squad and pushing for the first-team is still a valuable experience; more valuable than being miles away from playing for Wolves and featuring for the U23 anyway.
The Bluebirds have been having a decent season and are flirting with the play-off places. They currently sit 10th in the league, six points shy of Preston North End and Brentford in sixth and fifth respectively.
How will we get on against Spurs on the weekend?
Win
Draw
Loss
Speaking after the match, Harris, who was frustrated that they couldn’t get anything from the game, waxed lyrical about the performance of the young defender, claiming that he looked right at home.
The Cardiff City boss said: “I thought he was excellent.
“He played with real character and heart. He played like a player who had played 100 Championship games.
“He started off great. He got things slightly wrong at times, but didn’t everybody on their debut?
“I’m really pleased with him in Jazz’s absence, through illness, and Dion has come in and stepped up.
“It’s a league debut for him, we have to remember, at a young age.
“I’m so chuffed for him, it’s just a shame it wasn’t in a winning performance.”
While fans might be a bit frustrated that he isn’t performing regularly, they will be encouraged to hear such warming words from Harris who clearly seems to have his best interests at heart by expressing how ‘chuffed’ he is for him.
The defender played until the 81st minute before he was taken off in replacement for Leandro Bacuna, who ended up taking the limelight for his well-documented fallout with Callum Paterson after the match.
According to WhoScored, Sanderson was able to make 38 touches, supply one key pass, as well as make three tackles, one interception and one clearance.
