July Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

FRANK BURROWS has thrown down a challenge to Dai Thomas to establish a regular City first-team place this season.

Kevin Nugent’s injury cleared the way for Thomas to play alongside Jason Bowen in an attacking partnership that yielded four of the goals in a 5-0 defeat of Shamrock Rovers in a special match for the Centenary Trophy on Saturday.

The Caerphilly-born striker was a disappointment last season after his £50,000 move from Watford. His form was fitful, and at times he looked sluggish and over-weight. But a trimmer, sharper Thomas is likely to be in the starting line-up for Saturday’s home Second Division season-opener against Millwall.

He can keep his place if continues to apply himself as well as he has done in pre-season games.

“Dai Thomas’s career has been going nowhere,” said manager Burrows. “If he wants to put it back on the road and seriously challenge Nugent and Bowen for a first-team place it’s up to him.

“If he continues to work hard and keeps his diet under control, Dai Thomas is a useful player.

“He’s not a quick player. But he was brought here as a target man and is every bit as good as Kevin Nugent. It’s a nice contest between them. I had to play them together at times last season because of injuries, but they aren’t really suited.

“They both have a good touch and awareness and Dai is a good finisher.

“But he’s got to look after himself and keep in top condition. If Thomas stays in shape, why shouldn’t Kevin Nugent sit on the subs’ bench and watch Dai wear the No 9 shirt?”

The Dublin-based visitors tried to shut out City by playing with four at the back and five in midfield.

But their defence was frequently caught square and could not cope with the pace of Bowen, whose understanding with Thomas has developed since their time with Swansea City.

Bowen is recapturing the form that gained him senior Wales caps after his rescue from “Death Row” by Burrows.

The 27-year-old from Merthyr scored his second hat-trick in five days - the first was against Bath City. He was one of the five players cast aside by Reading manager Tommy Burns - they became known as the “Death Row Five”.

“Jason hardly kicked a ball for six or seven months at Reading,” said Burrows.

“When he joined us he was 60 per cent, perhaps more, below fitness level. He has had a proper pre-season and worked diligently to get back into top shape and has regained his appetite to
play.

“I’m pleased he’s getting goals. It depresses Jason when he’s not scoring, no matter what I say to encourage him.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence and making the angled runs that make it easier for team-mates to pick him out.”

Bowen opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a close-range header Tony O’Dowd got a hand to but could not keep out. Thomas added the second from the spot in the 23rd minute after O’Dowd was harshly penalised for a challenge on Jason Fowler.

The quicksilver Bowen, released by Danny Hill’s clever chip, outpaced his marker, Thomas Dunne, to finish clinically two minutes before half-time.

Thomas’s early cross enabled Bowen to complete his hat-trick after 56 minutes, and Hill added a fifth from Mark Bonner’s pass a minute later.

Jon Hallworth made urgent saves from Derek Tracey and substitute Brian Morrison, while Shane Robinson hit a post from 25 yards as City eased off in the sweltering heat.

An eight-goal victory margin would not have flattered them. They can expect a much sterner test from Millwall.

Burrows is hoping his squad will be strengthened by the return to fitness of summer signing Russell Perrett, Richard Carpenter, Mike Ford and Nugent.

And this week he is poised to sign Senegal international ’keeper Khadim Kaye from Portuguese club Felgueiras for £50,000. At 6ft 7in he would become the tallest ever to play for City.

John Charles was impressed, believing that newcomers Willie Boland from Coventry and Winston Faerver from Den Haag will prove good acquisitions.

“City had a strong backbone to the team,” he said. “They have players who are comfortable on the ball and can pass the ball well. Andy Legg has a sweet left
foot.”

The legendary Gentle Giant was one of the chief guests at City’s centenary dinner at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday night at which Brian Clark received an award for scoring City’s greatest goal - the winner against Real Madrid.

In a fans’ poll, the other votes went to John Toshack (greatest player), Jimmy Scoular (greatest manager), Fred Keenor (greatest captain) and City’s 1927 FA Cup winners (greatest team).