For the first time since his loan spell came to and end at the back end of the 2018/19 campaign, Harry Wilson is set to face his former club Derby County on Tuesday evening.
The 23-year-old, who can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, signed on loan for the Bluebirds at the start of the season with Liverpool deeming him surplus to requirements.
The Rams were also believed to be interested in re-signing the Wales international, but a move never manifested in the end.
Between his Derby and Cardiff spells, Wilson played a season of Premier League football with AFC Bournemouth where he scored seven goals in his 31 league appearances – in reality, not a bad return for a player in his first full top flight season, especially plying his trade for a side who were to be relegated.
Since dropping back into the Championship, as he was unable to find another Prem suitor, the ex-Ram has hit the back of the net on just four occasions in his 26 league appearances, but has added assists to his game, hitting double figures with ten so far this season.
Despite his 14 goal contributions, it’s not all been easy sailing for Wilson since Mick McCarthy’s appointment.
He spent the first match of McCarthy’s reign on the bench against Barnsley, being told he must impress in training before breaking back into the team after falling behind fellow Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo in the pecking order.
Failing to reclaim his spot on the wing, the Welshman was selected as an attacking midfielder a couple of games later against Bristol City and hasn’t looked back since.
Wilson has played and started the last seven games in his new role, an unbeaten spell for the Bluebirds in which they have recorded six wins and one draw, the draw coming in their latest fixture against Middlesbrough.
During his stay in the East Midlands, the youngster recorded 15 goals and three assists under Frank Lampard as Derby reached the Championship play-off final.
He missed out on a return to Pride Park in this season’s reverse fixture, one of two matches he missed with a muscle injury.