CARDIFF CITY SIGN LEON BARNETT ON LOAN

Cardiff City can this evening confirm the loan capture of Norwich City defender Leon Barnett.

Leon will join the squad to train on Friday morning and will remain at the club until the completion of the Nottingham Forest game on Saturday April 13th. If paperwork is completed in time he will be available for selection for the Hillsborough away trip as Cardiff City play Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. He will take squad number 25.

Speaking of the new arrival, Malky Mackay tonight said, “Leon is an experienced defender and will add quality to our ranks over the coming weeks. He’s quick, aggressive and a combative player – an excellent professional who has been involved in promotion pushes and is a good lad too. I’ve no doubt he’ll fit in very well with the squad and I would like to thank Chris Hughton and Norwich City for their help in bringing Leon in, it’s very much appreciated.”

Facts: 27 year old Leon began his career via the Academy at Luton Town in 2002. In 2007 he made the move to West Bromwich Albion while the Baggies were in the Championship, helping his new club gain promotion to the Premier League in his first season. Reward for this came via a new deal at the Hawthorns.

In 2009 Leon joined Coventry City on loan and made another loan move to Norwich City in August 2010; the move being made permanent in December the same year, with Leon a part of the squad that went on to win promotion to the top flight. This season he has so far made eleven appearances in the Premier League.