Two clubs in battle for Cardiff City player as midfielder told to learn from 'tough experience'
Bristol Rovers and Exeter City have both confirmed their interest in taking Cardiff City midfielder Joel Colwill on loan, Omer Riza has said.
The Bluebirds man has enjoyed a stellar season on loan in League Two with Cheltenham Town, whose boss Michael Flynn is desperate to keep hold of him until the end of the campaign.
Colwill, 20, has scored nine goals and provided three assists in 28 matches for the Gloucestershire side, but Riza wants the Wales youth international to go and test himself at a higher level.
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“Currently there’s been a few whispers with regards to players going out on loan," the Bluebirds manager said. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
“Joel, we’ve got interest from League One for him, which I think would be really good for him and would be good for his education.
“There are other players we’ve got interest in… but we have to be patient because we have to make sure we have players in before we let players go out."
When asked about reports that Rovers, Exeter and Bolton Wanderers were all keen on Colwill, Riza replied: "Definitely Bristol Rovers and Exeter. Bolton have other players they’re looking at. There are other clubs as well. So there are lots of potential clubs interested.
"When I was at Arsenal I went out to League Two, then League One, it's very good for the experience and very good for the learning of the player. When he comes back in he will be ready to go, hopefully.
“He’s been brilliant. That’s credit to him and to Cheltenham for giving him the opportunity. He is playing well there and enjoying it. You need to be out of your comfort zone to improve.
"It's not definite he is going out anywhere, he might stay at Cheltenham, he might go out [on loan somewhere else]. That could last right up until the end of the window."
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In contrast to Colwill's stint at Cheltenham, Eli King has had to endure a tougher spell in League One. On loan at Stevenage, the former Wales youth international has played just 10 minutes since the end of October and has not featured in any of Alex Revell's last six matchday squads.
Because King played in Cardiff's Carabao Cup match at the beginning of the season, he is unable to head out on loan to another team, having played for two clubs already this season.
Riza believes the experience will toughen up the 22-year-old, who has previously enjoyed positive loans at Crewe, Morecambe and Ross County.
“He did pick up an injury and then he’s been fit, he’s just not been able to get into the Stevenage team or squad because the manager’s wanted something different," Riza said of King.
"It’s good experience for Eli. It’s another experience, a tough experience he’s learning from. We will have to see what happens with that further down the window."
