Omer Riza

Riza pre-Norwich City | We need to keep pushing

Interviews
Omer Riza spoke to the press to preview our Sky Bet Championship fixture against Norwich City on Saturday afternoon. 

The Bluebirds interim boss began with an injury update on his squad. 

“At the moment, our injured players are just a week further along. Kion [Etete] is back in full training and he will continue to progress nicely with the group. Isaak Davies had a tiny setback with his injury, which will take him back a bit further now. He’s pushing to get himself fit and when you’re a young lad like that, I remember when I was young, you try and get yourself back fit and push a little bit too hard. He’s still rehabbing at the moment. 

"Rambo [Aaron Ramsey] is working towards getting himself back in contention to start playing again within the next three to five weeks. Ryotaro Tsunoda has been training with the strength and conditioning staff, within the next two to three weeks he might start coming back into the group, he’s looking strong. 

Rallsy [Joe Ralls] is in a good place. He’s on the pitch again, he’s running and working hard. There is a possibility he could be back around the Blackburn game. We might not push him for that one, but there’s potential there. Callum Robinson has got a slight knock on his achilles and we’re just monitoring that. We’ll see how he progresses tomorrow. 

“A lot of the boys are in good form at the moment, so you don’t want to lose players, but at the same time, we’ve got players that are chomping at the bit to play as well. Callum has been an integral part of the team and I hope that he will be ok."

Omer Riza

City head into the contest in positive form, having been unbeaten in the last five matches, including victories over Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth. 

Last time out, the Bluebirds gained a valuable point at The Hawthorns with a goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion. 

Omer continued: “It’s important, I’ve always said, that the players are in a good place, like mentally, physically, for them to be able to perform. I think they’re in a good place at the moment and they need to continue, because we haven’t really achieved anything yet, other than trying to get ourselves back to where we thought we should have started. 

"There’s a lot more work to do and we can’t sit on our laurels and think we’ve done enough, because we haven’t done anywhere near enough yet. I spoke to the boys about that today, we need to keep pushing forwards and keep working hard.

“The boys have got to be ready to play wherever they need to play. They need to be prepared, they need to take ownership of what’s given to them, what obstacles are put in front of them and I’m sure they’re all professional enough to do that."

Omer Riza

Saturday's opponents are also in good form and are currently on a seven-game unbeaten run. 

Their last three matches have all resulted in draws however, the most recent coming in a 3-3 thriller against Middlesbrough.

“They’re a dangerous side," Omer added. "They play good football, they can open you up, have it down the sides or through the middle of the pitch, they counter very quickly and they’re decisive in their attacking approach. 

"We’re going to have to be really good defensively, like we were against West Brom, but I definitely feel that we’re not going into the game thinking that we are underdogs, if you like. The way we’re performing at the moment, we’re going to go in like we want to win the game, which I’ve said in every game that we approach."

Watch more from Omer and Calum Chambers on Cardiff City TV!