Tanner told to lose weight to earn Cardiff starting spot

Cardiff City head Erol Bulut has told Ollie Tanner to suffer weight if he wants to play much regularly.

The 22-year-old winger has started only 10 convention games since joining from non-league Lewes successful 2022 and has featured much regularly arsenic a substitute.

Tanner demonstrated really impactful he tin beryllium from nan chair erstwhile he came connected to supply nan assistance for Callum Robinson’s equaliser during past Sunday’s 1-1 tie astatine Swansea City.

He besides scored an fantabulous extremity arsenic a substitute during past season’s 2-0 triumph complete nan Swans but, pinch precious fewer different contributions complete nan people of nan campaign, Bulut wants Tanner to amended his fittingness successful bid to execute much consistently.

“With Ollie I had a really bully conversation. I’m pushing him ever guardant because he has to alteration a fewer things successful his life,” said Bulut.

“He did good successful nan games erstwhile he came successful for nan past 20 aliases 30 minutes, but I want that from him erstwhile he starts nan games, that he delivers nan aforesaid performance. This is nan problem pinch him I have.

“Also I deliberation he must return attraction astir his food. He has a fewer kilos he has to lose. We said pinch him astir that and he knows that truthful he’s taking attraction pinch that now.”

Previous Cardiff managers person questioned Tanner’s fitness, including Steve Morison who signed nan winger from Lewes.

But Morison and his successors besides saw that nan subordinate – who was sent connected indebtedness to York during nan 2022-23 play – besides has existent talent.

That was abundantly clear erstwhile Tanner came disconnected nan chair to people a superb extremity against Swansea past year, cutting wrong from nan correct helping and rifling a debased left-footed onslaught into nan acold corner.

Such moments person been fewer and acold betwixt since then.

Tanner did connection a timely reminder of his qualities past Sunday though, erstwhile he hared down nan correct and pulled nan shot backmost for Robinson to expanse successful a first-time finish, earning Cardiff a valuable tie successful past weekend’s southbound Wales derby.

“If he concentrates, trains good and takes attraction of his life, he will springiness bully performances,” said Bulut.

“Every subordinate needs to return attraction of their backstage lives, not conscionable astatine training and past it’s finished. It’s 24 hours a day, you must return attraction of yourself.

“Younger players are a small spot different to knowledgeable players but they must study from nan knowledgeable players. Professional players don’t conscionable play connected a Saturday aliases Sunday, it continues pinch food, pinch resting, pinch taking attraction of your body. Every time you person to beryllium ready.”