Joel Colwill Shows Scoring Potential in Championship

Brian Barry-Murphy believes Joel Colwill has only just started to show his scoring potential after the youngster marked his first Championship start with a crucial goal for Cardiff City.

The 21-year-old rose to glance in a second-half header that salvaged a 1-1 draw against Stoke City and stopped the Bluebirds sliding to a third straight defeat. It was a big moment in the game – and, in his manager’s eyes, a glimpse of what is to come.

“It was a great finish and very important for us – he carries a big goal threat,” said Barry-Murphy, who watched Colwill grow in influence as the match wore on.

Colwill struck seven times last season and played with the confidence of a player who knows where the goal is. After the interval, he became the heartbeat of Cardiff’s response, driving them up the pitch and almost turning one point into three when another effort came back off the post.

The pressure finally told when Barry-Murphy pushed him higher up the pitch.

“Joel played a little bit too deep in the first half, but in the second half he was very good, very close to Yousef [Salech],” the Irishman explained. “A lot of our best moments in the box, he was on the premises, which is a big part of his role for the team.”

That tweak changed the tone of Cardiff’s performance. Colwill started to arrive in dangerous areas, timing his runs and unsettling Stoke’s back line. One header levelled the match. Another run almost won it.

While Joel stepped forward, Cardiff were forced to cope without his older brother Rubin Colwill, who missed out against Stoke because of an ankle problem.

“Rubin’s ankle wasn’t OK yesterday. He didn’t train,” Barry-Murphy said. “There was talk of putting him on the bench, but I wasn’t sure he would be fully fit if he was to come on.

“That was also the case on Saturday, and I didn’t want to risk it because of what he’s been through with the ankle.”

Cardiff, still chasing their first Championship win of the season, can ill afford to lose Rubin for a prolonged spell. Barry-Murphy, though, is optimistic the influential midfielder could return in time for Saturday’s trip to Bolton.

If Joel continues to attack the box with the same conviction, and Rubin’s ankle holds up, Cardiff’s search for that first victory may not drag on much longer.