Cardiff City will allow Ryotaro Tsunoda to leave on loan and return to his former club KV Kortrijk for the rest of the season.

Bluebirds boss Omer Riza previously stated that they were looking to send the Japanese centre-back out on loan again in the new year, with the 25-year-old finally having recovered from a nasty hamstring injury.

He sustained that hamstring injury while on loan at Kortrijk, Cardiff's sister club, last year, having signed for the Welsh club a year ago before the immediate move to Belgium. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

READ MORE: Omer Riza praises 'brilliant' Cardiff City star amid 'disappointment' over decision

READ MORE: Excellent Cardiff City player ratings as star man top class and defender issues perfect response

Tsunoda, who is left footed and can play at centre-back, in a back three or at left-back, has made a comeback in recent weeks and has turned out a couple of times for Cardiff's under-21s in a bid to regain his match fitness.

It is understood there are still some admin details to iron out and sign off, with Tsunoda's deal likely to be pushed through early next week.

Cardiff have a number of centre-backs on the books in Dimitrios Goutas, Calum Chambers, Jesper Daland, Will Fish and even Joel Bagan and Perry Ng have played there, too, so it's best for all parties if Tsunoda is able to get regular game time.

WHATSAPP: Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community

The Bluebirds also need to reduce their squad numbers in order to register new players this month, with their 25-man maximum quota having already been fulfilled. Roko Simic this week returned from KV Kortrijk, it is understood, however he does not count towards the player quota due to him being only 21.

Cardiff hope Tsunoda displays the same form during his second loan stint in Belgium as he did during his first spell there last season. He earned rave reviews, with Cardiff striker Isaak Davies, who was also on loan there last year, waxing lyrical about his ability.

Tsunoda, who is yet to play for Cardiff, played nine times for KVK last season and was one of their highest-rated players according to stats metrics on WhoScored.