'Brilliant' and 'a lot of potential' - rising star Ashford

All football fans love to see a local lad flourishing for their club, and Cardiff City seem to have a homegrown rising star on their hands in the form of Cian Ashford.

The 20-year-old has impressed in the Championship in recent weeks, and the young forward caught the eye with a superbly taken goal in Thursday's 1-0 FA Cup win at Sheffield United.

That was the highlight of a fine all-round display of industrious running and attacking invention which earned Ashford the man of the match award at Bramall Lane.

"Ash is excellent. He listens, he learns, he wants to do well," Cardiff manager Omer Riza told BBC Radio Wales.

"He gets disappointed at times, which is good but bad at times as well because he lets it get to his performance.

"I've said from the start of the season, Cian has got a lot of potential. We all believe in him – he needs to believe in himself more. I'm delighted for him."

Cardiff's captain, Joe Ralls, was similarly impressed.

"He's been brilliant for us, really stepped up. He had a little spell out of the team, he's worked on his game and he's come back with a point to prove," Ralls told Match of the Day.

"That's the real Cian Ashford and he's kicking on now. That was a really well taken goal."

Ralls, Riza and Cardiff's fans may already be aware of Ashford's ability, but he was able to broadcast his skills to a new audience on Thursday as the FA Cup win at Sheffield United was televised live on Match of the Day on BBC One Wales.

Former Wales manager Rob Page – who also played for the Blades as well as the Bluebirds – was one of the pundits pitchside.

"He was the man of the match, he was the standout player," said Page.

"I thought he was brilliant and Cardiff thoroughly deserved the win."

Page will have been aware of Ashford, a Wales Under-21 international, during his time in charge of the national team.

So does he think the Cardiff forward could one day represent his country at senior level?

"He can't worry about what's coming over the next few months," Page said.

"He's got to enjoy this moment. He's got to build on that and keep impressing."