Cardiff City manager Omer Riza has warned that Wales captain Aaron Ramsey’s fitness will have to be managed as he returns from injury ahead of this Saturday’s Severnside derby with Bristol City.

Ramsey played over an hour in Cardiff’s thrilling FA Cup victory over Stoke City, with a 3-3 draw in normal time leading to a 4-2 penalty shoot out vicotry for the Bluebirds.

However, the 34-year-old was absent from the Cardiff squad for their 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

‘We have to manage him’

Despite Ramsey’s absence, Riza did stress that the Wales midfielder is being managed correctly and will play a part in Saturday’s match.

“He’s been out for five months, he’s had a lot of injuries,” Riza said.

“The plan for him is not to go game after game after game – he’s not able to do it at present.

“We have to manage him accordingly which I’ve said many times.”

The Cardiff manager did stress that Ramsey is fit and available for selection for the derby, which takes on added significance this Saturday.

Big Game Player

With both teams fighting at opposite ends of the table – Cardiff two points above the relegation zone, and Bristol two points below the play-offs – a result either way could have big implications for the rest of the season.

The loss at Fratton Park means Cardiff are only two points clear of the Championship relegation zone ahead of the Severnside derby, which has come to mean a great deal to supporters of both clubs.

With just six points separating seven clubs at the bottom of the division, Riza says Ramsey’s availability could a key factor for his side.

“We have to manage the players correctly. The games are coming thick and fast, everyone has the same problem, you can’t select the same players for every game,” he added.

“Aaron played in the FA Cup and couldn’t be involved in the game after.

“He will be available for Saturday and we will see what selection we come up with.”

Riza Returns To The Touchline

Following Omer Riza’s red card during Cardiff’s 3-0 South Wales derby victory over Swansea, he was handed a three-match touchline ban.

Cardiff’s league form has dipped in that time, thrashed 7-0 at Leeds United before the aforementioned defeat to Portsmouth. Cardiff had been on a seven match unbeaten run before Riza’s red card.

When he was asked if his return to the touchline might help his team rediscover their winning touch, Riza told BBC Radio Wales: “I’d like to think so. I hope so.

“It’s been hard up there for three games but the boys, the coaches, have been brilliant while I’ve been away. It’s my fault – I acknowledge that. We’ve got Bristol City at home on Saturday and we need to pick up points.”

Recent Derby Success

Cardiff are unbeaten in their last four Severnside derby matches, winning three times in a row from 2023 to 2024.

That run is not quite as good as the one Bristol City went on between 1971 and 1992, when they went unbeaten in 17 matches between the two sides, winning 14 of them.

Cardiff had their own ‘glory period’ in the derby, losing just once in 14 matches between 1958 and 1970.

The two rivals have faced each other 103 times since their first meeting in the FA Cup in 1915, with Cardiff winning 39 times, and Bristol City 42.

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