Naylor Signed – But No Official Confirmation?!?

Cardiff City have apparently signed up former Celtic left-back Lee Naylor, although there is yet to be an official statement to this effect from the club.

WalesOnline this morning claimed that Naylor had signed, while a radio interview with Dave Jones also suggested that Naylor’s paperwork had gone through and that he was now a Cardiff City player.

Naylor is a specialist left-back, a position we had looked weak in following the pre-season departures of Mark Kennedy (Ipswich Town – £75k) and Tony Capaldi (released). That meaant that Kevin McNaughton was switched to left-back, a position he is more-than-capable of playing and he has started the season in typically fine form.

However, Super Kev can always be relied on to pick up a few hamstring/back niggles over the season while he was stretchered off with concussion during the 2-1 win against Derby County last weekend. Whilst Darcy Blake and Adam Matthews are solid full-backs, neither is as comfortable on the left.

Naylor provides a genuine left-footed presence at the back and arrives with a good pedigree. The 30-year old is well known to Dave Jones, having spent the vast majority of his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He is also a former England U21 International and is known for providing classy crosses and free-kicks with his left foot.

The Bluebirds have also snapped up left-back Martin John on a 1-year deal but it seems Naylor, McNaughton,Blake and Matthews will be the main contenders for the full-back positions, with John, Paul Quinn and Miguel Comminges unlikely to feature regularly.

Welcome to Cardiff City Lee Naylor.