Tanner back in full training after four months out

Cardiff City winger Ollie Tanner is back in full training and close to a return to action following four months out with an ankle injury.

The 23-year-old sustained the injury when he collided with an advertising board during the 1-0 win at AFC Wimbledon in August.

Tanner, who joined the Bluebirds from Lewes in July 2022, is on track to be available for first-team selection in January.

"Ollie's back in full training today [Thursday] so that's his first day back in full training for us today so that will be good for him," said Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

"There's obviously a huge disappointment when he suffered the injury he did at Wimbledon but, at this time of the year when the games are coming so thick and fast, to have somebody of his calibre coming back into the squad is very much like a new signing for us.

"If we could recruit Ollie Tanner in the window in January, we would be over the moon, so to have him come back into our squad available for selection in January would be massive for us."

On the timescale of Tanner's return, Barry-Murphy added: "He'll obviously tell you he's available much sooner, which is great because he feels so good and he's looking so good.

"But I just think with the amount of time he's been out for would mean that we just have to be mindful of building him back up to a healthy level of fitness before we expose him to the games he's going to have to play."

Meanwhile, centre-back Gabriel Osho is around two weeks away from a return following an injury to his big toe.

The 27-year-old sustained the injury during last week's 5-1 EFL Trophy defeat at home by AFC Wimbledon.

"Gabriel Osho is back in partial training, so really good news on his toe injury, where there's no fracture and we can build him back up pretty quickly," said Barry-Murphy.

"I would say if today [training on Thursday] goes reasonably well, then I'd say he could be back within maybe two weeks. But I'm not certain, just because initially we thought there might be a fracture to his toe, and then it was looking as if it was going to be slightly longer term.

"The good news means there is no fracture. So if he starts to come through day by day, then that two-week period could be realistic."