Cardiff trio training with U21s ahead of Championship return

[Huw Evans Picture Agency] Three of Cardiff City's senior players are training with the Under-21s as the players return for the start of pre-season. Roko Simic, Jesper Daland and Kion Etete have been absent from the first team as the Bluebirds prepare for life back in the Championship. Manager Brian Barry-Murphy's transfer mantra has always been "quality over quantity" and the Irishman has chosen to keep a relatively small squad despite their promotion from League One. Simic, a Croatia Under-21 international, signed for Cardiff in August 2024 under manager Erol Bulut for £2m from Red Bull Salzburg. He has never made an appearance for City and spent last season on loan at Karlsruher SC in Germany's second tier. Daland, a Norway Under-21 international, signed for Cardiff during the same transfer window from Belgian Pro League's Cercle Brugge. He played once under Barry-Murphy on the opening day of the League One season, before following Simic on a loan to Germany's second tier with Fortuna Dusseldorf - who got relegated to Germany's 3 Liga. Etete, a once promising young signing from Tottenham Hotspur, has struggled to make an impact with the Bluebirds during his tenure, scoring nine goals in 63 games. After three loan spells away from Cardiff at Bolton Wanderers, Rotherham United and Scotland's St Mirren, it seems increasingly likely that he, along with Daland and Simic will not be a part of Barry-Murphy's plans this season.