Will Alves provides the attributes Cardiff City “have needed”, their manager Omer Riza has said after the Leicester City attacking midfielder joined the Bluebirds on loan.

Alves has moved to South Wales for the remainder of the season and will hope to get consistent first-team minutes to aid his game-time. Riza, who knows Alves from his time in England’s youth set-up, has indicated that Alves has an important role to play in Cardiff’s Championship survival fight, with his willingness to dribble at defenders a key characteristic missing from their team at present.

"Will is very powerful,” Riza told Cardiff. “He’s quick and has a great attitude. He’s a hungry player, has an aggression to want to run at players and get beyond the opposition. We’ve needed that a little bit and I'm glad he can now add that to our team.”

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Alves has played five senior matches for City and made his Premier League debut against Manchester City in December. But now he has an opportunity to play more regularly and really kickstart his development.

City will hope Alves gets plenty of game-time so that he returns to the club in the summer with more experience and with more confidence. Then, he can be a serious challenger for a first-team spot at the King Power Stadium next term.

“I’m buzzing and really excited,” the 19-year-old said. “It’s a big club to come to and I’m excited for the challenge ahead. I’m a creative player and I like to cause the opposition problems. This is an important experience for me. I want to kick on now.”

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