Campbell and Weston Out on Loan?

On His Way?
By Chris O'Brien
November 12 2004

Rhys Weston and Andy Campbell are set to be loaned out with the duo struggling to get first-team recognition at Ninian Park. Campbell has failed to scored only 2 goals in his last 39 appearances, whilst Weston has loan defender Williams and youngster Byron Anthony ahead of him in the pecking order.

Cardiff City manager Lennie Lawrence is looking to loan out out-of-favour duo Rhys Weston and Andy Campbell to give the struggling pair some much-needed first-team football.

On-loan right-back Darren Williams is ahead of Weston in the Ninian Park pecking order, whilst Gary Croft nurses a long-term injury on the sidelines. However, Lawrence showed he'd rather tinker with his defence than start Welsh international Weston at the moment, as proved against Portsmouth where Tony Vidmar started on the right side of the backline due to the absence of cup-tied Williams.

A run of woeful performances this season has left Andy Campbell's Cardiff City career in serious doubt. The 2003 play-off hero has failed to score in 13 appearances this term. In all honesty he has never made the impact many had hoped following a phenomenal loan spell towards the end of the 2001/2002 season, despite netting the winning goal in the play-off final against QPR the following year. Last season he only netted 3 goals in all competitions and showed a distinct lack of confidence.

The arrival of Byron Anthony, instrumental in the reserves last season, has not helped Weston's cause at the back whilst Campbell has been behind youngsters Stuart Fleetwood and Camerone Jerome in the squad since a shocking penalty miss at home to Leeds United. Both players will be desperate for some Football League action to prove their worth for Lawrence as the Bluebirds look to move well away from the Championship relegation zone.

Whether Lawrence plans to send the two out to gain confidence, or with an eye to permanently offloading the players is unknown. Chris Barker's career in the blue jersey looked over when he was sent to Stoke City earlier in the season, only for the battling Yorkshireman to be re-called to Ninian Park where has resurrected his career by making the left-back role his own.