Cardiff City academy midfielder Troy Perrett has caught the eye of first-team manager Omer Riza.

Attacking midfielder Perrett, who can play both centrally and on the wing, is a consistent performer at academy level for Cardiff and for Wales under-19s. Those who regularly watch the youth teams at Cardiff have often spoke of him in glowing terms.

And the 18-year-old has now impressed the first-team manager, having stepped up to train with the first team this season and even earning a spot on the bench in the defeat at Sheffield United just before Christmas.

READ MORE: Cardiff City enigma still 'way off' starting as fans left scratching their heads

READ MORE: Omer Riza blown away by 'special' Cardiff City player and tips him for the top

Riza, however, has urged patience when it comes to thrusting these untested youngsters into the limelight, citing Cian Ashford as an example of how long it can take some young players to become both physically and mentally ready for first-team action. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

"Anyone who has stood out for me? I think Troy Perrett has done very well," Riza said when asked about emerging youngsters.

"He has trained up and played in the international breaks at times. These things take time. It's hard enough trying to get the lads like Ash, it's taken me a whole season to get Ash playing and performing.

"People look at it and say 'Why was Ash not involved in June, July, August, September, October?' He started playing at the end of December and it took that amount of time for us to get Ash to a point where there was a little bit of confidence there. The times before that he showed he wasn't quite ready. Look at him now!"

We have seen the likes of Ashford, Michael Reindorf and even Luey Giles and Ronan Kpakio rewarded for their under-21s performances this season with elevations into the senior setup this season.

Cardiff's pathway from youth football into senior football was non-existent for some time, but the club have made strides in that regard in recent years, with a far more robust loan strategy and selection policy, particularly in cup matches. And as a result, fans are keen to know who the next cabs off the rank are, so to speak.

"We watch the under-21s games, we watch their training, fans come and watch the games, but it's a really big step up to the first team. Although we want to expose players they have got to earn it and be ready for it," Riza added.

"Dylan Lawlor has been injured quite a bit, the club have had to manage him really carefully. There have been times he could train, then he couldn't - he picks up a little knock - so the inconsistencies of Dylan is difficult. You can't just bring him into a first-team environment when he can't train for the under-21s side.

"He is getting there slowly, he trained with us today, funnily enough. But he's not at the levels others are like Dimi (Goutas), like (Will) Fish, like (Joel) Bagan, like (Jesper) Daland. Seasoned centre-halves - I say seasoned and even our centre-halves are young!

"We have had players train up quite a bit. Dak (Dakarai Mafico) trains up at times, he has got a lovely left peg and is tenacious. His decision-making at times is not right, they are just young lads.

"Tan (Nyakuhwa) has done OK in his under-21s games, I know he scored against Swansea the other day. There are boys doing well. It takes time."

It's rare that these players step up from youth football to senior football and take to it like a duck to water. Often the way is to ease them in slowly, periods in and out of the side, exposure followed by 'work-ons', to coin an industry phase.

Giles was a player Cardiff fans were excited about at the beginning of the season following his run in the side under Erol Bulut at the tail end of last year, but the club have been careful with the 18-year-old's game management. Riza handed him a start in the FA Cup against Stoke City last month, but pulled him at half-time following a tough 45 minutes.

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

What followed was an "honest" conversations and some areas on which the Wales youth international could improve in order for him to realise his potential and push those ahead of him in the months to come.

"Luey Giles, at left-back, I gave him half a game against Stoke and he did well, but it was a really difficult game for him," Riza said. "But I had to take him out at half time, because to leave him on would have potentially caused him a lot more heartache.

"We've had a good, honest chat and that's the way we have to approach every one of our young players. We have to be honest, give them the opportunity and manage them accordingly, that's down to us as coaches to do that.

"I get fans want to see all these players, but they don't see them like we do. We are experienced enough and have seen enough in our careers as coaches and players to recognise whether a player is confident enough or technically good enough, or right at that time to make those decisions.

"They need to be patient with us. We are trying to do the right thing. We are not trying to hinder anyone's progression or stop anyone from playing. We want them all to play, but it's got to be right."