CREATIVE ACE IS BLUEBIRDS' PRIORITY FOR NEW SEASON.

Byline: Terry Phillips

DAVE Jones and Peter Ridsdale must move swiftly to strengthen their Cardiff City squad in central midfield.

Manager Jones has made it clear he wants another three players in - and quickly. The priority, though, must be a creative player through the middle to ensure strong competition for places.

The Bluebirds are short in that area. Slovakian trialist Maros Klimpl was released by Jones during the trip to Portugal and that was the right decision.

Klimpl is a decent player, but he is more of a forager through midfield in a Gavin Rae style. City badly need a cutting edge through that area, a player who will also chip in with a few goals over the season.

Stephen McPhail is that style of player and he needs to find his best form from the start of the new season. Personally, I'm not convinced by the pairing of Rae and Joe Ledley.

Yes, they provide energy, pas-sion and drive. They showed that during a hugely-successful spell alongside each other last term, but over a season Jones will need alternative styles.

City need extra creativity and, with Riccy Scimeca ruled out by a groin problem, the need for a new man in midfield is urgent.

Chairman Ridsdale, of course, has to balance the books. He can't keep bringing in players with few signs of others going out.

Even Warren Feeney, who isn't part of Jones' plans for this season, is back on the Cardiff City payroll. He spent all last season with Dundee United and was due to complete a transfer to Coca-Cola League One Leeds United until a hip problem was found - and he has had surgery.

Ridsdale needs to see players trimmed from the wage bill before he can sanction more being spent on the squad. Jones is impatient, has identified the three players he wants - a midfield wide man, central player and a striker - and doesn't want to miss out.

Perhaps, though, the wide man can wait. City already have Peter Whittingham, looking sharper and more fired up than he was at any stage last season, the lively Chris Burke, Paul Parry and, of course, Ross McCormack who can operate in those areas.

In attack, Jay Bothroyd, with three goals in three pre-season games, McCormack and Michael Chopra are slugging it out for the two starting spots. Parry can also play through the middle and maybe the arrival of that extra striker can also be delayed at least a short time.

It's crucial, though, for Cardiff to create much needed competition in midfield.

McPhail, technically gifted and a player who makes difficult passes look so simple, has looked good during pre-season. He suffered badly last season after twice being sent off against Swansea City, but looks ready for a new start and a new challenge.

Overall, City's squad look lean, mean and fit.

They produced excellent movement and superb touches in a successful trip to Portugal and have so far played three, won three in pre-season.

Celtic, at Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday, will provide a far stiffer test for the Bluebirds, but they have passed each test so far.

Chasetown were beaten 4-0, Fatima, in the first game on tour, were edged out 1-0 and then, on Saturday, City won 3-0 against a Portuguese President's Select at Alcochete Stadium, Setubal, an hour south from Lisbon.

Bothroyd scored two and Michael Chopra one against pretty strong opposition who provided Cardiff's toughest test so far.

Goalkeepers Peter Enckelman and David Marshall have between them kept three clean sheets in three matches.

Each keeper has been involved in one-and-a-half matches and it was Enckelman who played the full 90 against the President's Select.

City's opponents were a squad comprising professional footballers who have not yet signed for a club. Many, like goalkeeper Marco Taburs, who was Setubal's first-choice for many seasons, have a lot of experience at the top level in Portugal.

Another, central midfield player Emiliano, was a youth academy player at Southampton when Jones was man-ager. Last season, Emiliano played in China.

The President's Select provided a far stiffer test than Fatima in midweek. For an hour the match was goalless, but then Bothroyd flicked a header into the net from Kevin McNaughton's long cross and the boys from Portugal could not maintain their stubborn resistance.

Three goals in a 13-minute second-half spell left them down and out.

"We have won twice in Portugal, but right now results are not the most important factor," said Jones. "We are preparing for the new season, which starts in three weeks.

"We don't want players sharp now. It's too early and we need each player to be ready for that opening Championship match against Scunthorpe United.

"I am happy with fitness levels and we have not picked up any injuries during our eight-day trip to Portugal. We had to leave Riccy Scimeca and Darcy Blake behind because of minor injuries and now they are both playing catch-up."

HOW THEY LINED UP President's Select P M Taburs, F Duarte, R Andri, Baltaza, F Martins, Adilson, M Sonzes, T Levios, Dionisio, Demba, Fabio. Subs used: M Pinto (gk), Z Pinto, B Basto, Emiliano, Sufriuv, Chevela, T Figuero.

Cardiff City P Enckelman, P Quinn (A Matthews 75), M Hudson (A Morris 75), G Gyepes (A Gerrard 45), T Capaldi (K McNaughton 45), P Parry (J Magennis 75), G Rae (S McPhail 45), J Ledley (capt), P Whittingham, R McCormack (M Chopra 66), J Bothroyd (C Burke70). Subs not used: D Marshall (gk), M Kennedy. TICKET information for Cardiff City's home matches against Celtic on Wednesday and then Valencia on Saturday, August 1, is available from the ticket office on 0845 345 1400 or via the club's official website.

CAPTION(S):

Jay Bothroyd beats the goalkeeper with a looping header during Cardiff City's 3-0 over a President's Select XI in Setubal. Inset left, Mark Hudson has settled into the centre of City's defence during the club's training week in Portugal PICTURE: Barry McAnnuffe