Jones gives Fowler time to prove Cup final fitness
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
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Robbie Fowler is hoping to be fit in time for the FA Cup final despite only returning to training two weeks ago following a hip operation
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Managers are not in the habit of asking players if they are fit enough to play in the FA Cup final as the answer is usually – "Of course I am, Gaffer. This leg that's hanging off? Nah, that's just a flesh wound." But Dave Jones is prepared to make an exception in the case of Robbie Fowler.
Such is the desperation of the Cardiff City manager to have Fowler's experience in the squad to face Portsmouth on Saturday, Jones has all but given him a Thursday deadline to pick himself for Wembley.
"Robbie will get as much of a chance as we can possibly give him," said Jones at Cardiff's training headquarters in the Vale of Glamorgan. "We have to make sure he is right and the only person who will give me that knowledge is Robbie himself. At the moment, he's saying he's fine. But he has to be honest."
Fowler has only been back in training for two weeks after a hip operation that has ruled him out since December. Jones confirmed that the 33-year-old will not make his starting XI, but the likelihood of Fowler playing a role from the bench is increasing by the training session.
"Robbie has worked his socks off. I think getting to the final has given him something at the end to really fight for," Jones said. "But what we have got to be careful of is not forcing him back just for one game or 15 minutes and then miss him again for another three or four months."
Jones is keen to keep Fowler for another year following his successful start to life in the Championship – he scored six goals in his first 13 games. His inclusion might seem harsh on whoever makes way – Steve Thompson or Trevor Sinclair are favourites to lose out – but Jones is adamant he must do the best by the club as they attempt to become the first from outside the top division to win the Cup in 28 years.
Jones joked that he would love to field another former Liverpool striker who cut a familiar figure yesterday. Craig Bellamy has been invited to train with his hometown club as he attempts to recover from a long-standing abdominal injury for Wales' friendlies with Iceland and the Netherlands later this month.
