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From WalesOnLine
Mick McCarthy says Jonny Williams is in contention to make his Cardifff City debut against Luton Town on Tuesday night, but Lee Tomlin has suffered a setback in his bid to return to full fitness.
Williams signed for the Bluebirds on the final day of the January transfer window, but is yet to make his full debut as a City player following a knock picked up in training.
However, McCarthy says he is now in contention to face the Hatters, and with attacking players like Josh Murphy putting their hands up for a place in his first-team plans, he admits the return of the Wales international has given him a positive selection headache.
"Jonny Williams should be coming back," he said after the win over the Sky Blues.
"It's great. There's nothing worse than having injured players and you're desperate to get them fit because the others aren't playing very well.
"It's much better to be thinking 'Well, Jonny Williams might come back and Junior (Hoilett) and Sheyi (Ojo), they might not get a game'. That's the beauty of, for me, the subs coming into the squad, all performing, so it will still be nice to have that back-up if he comes."
Along with Joe Ralls, Hoilett remains a doubt for the trip to Kenilworth Road, as too is goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who was withdrawn during the win over Bristol City with illness.
"Junior I'm not sure," McCarthy said.
"Alex I don't know. That's a strange one. It's wiped him out, the illness, apparently."
Meanwhile, McCarthy says Lee Tomlin's initial return date of February 20 is now being revised, with the forward suffering a setback in his bid to return.
"It's not happening," said McCarthy when asked about his previous timeframe for Tomlin's return.
"We've encouraged that definitely, but he's come back and trained two or three times for the 23's and then gone off because his hip's been bothering him.
"The program was that he was going to have two to three weeks training, have two games with the 23s and then train with us.
"Well, he's not completed two or three weeks training and he's not had those two 23s games. Pure and simple because his hip's bothering him.
"Unless his hip gets sorted out, it's unlikely. I'm still waiting for Tommo to complete those two full weeks training and have couple of weeks' training. As yet, he's not been able to, so it's sad for him."
One man who has certainly staked a claim for a place is Liverpool loanee Ojo, who has netted two goals and earned one assist under the new boss.
The winger was left out of the win over the Sky Blues, but he could be in contention for Tuesday night, although McCarthy admits he has no hesitation in throwing Murphy into the fold once more, following his sparkling performance in the 3-1 win.
"Sheyi had a stiff hip flexor," McCarthy added. "He was out training yesterday, and he didn't look too comfortable. I said 'are you 100 percent confident?' And he said 'hmm, I don't know' so I said come off.
"Josh can play. I'd sooner you'd miss one game and be fit for the next 18 or whatever rather than try to play and be injured and he was cool with that. He'll be better for it.
"Josh has played. Played well and scored, so it's nice how it works out."
Originally Posted by Former Labour leader
