The 19-year-old made his debut for his new loan club, coming off the bench in the second half and playing through extra time as the Bluebirds secured a penalty shootout win over Stoke.
Cardiff City took a chance on Leicester City prospect Will Alves—something many other clubs might have hesitated to do—and it appears that gamble is already paying off.
Alves was given his first taste of senior action during their FA Cup shootout victory over Stoke on Saturday, and just 40 minutes on the pitch was enough to excite the Cardiff supporters. Initially brought on to play on the right wing, he soon shifted to the left, showcasing his dribbling skills, direct running, and overall threat in the final third. In only his sixth senior appearance, he beat a couple of defenders and managed to get off a few shots.
Journalist Paul Abbandonato remarked, “My first impression of Alves is that he’s exactly what Cardiff have been crying out for—fast, direct, skilful, and ready to race to the byline.”
The youngster now looks likely to start when Cardiff take on relegation rivals Portsmouth on Tuesday night. However, Cardiff boss Omer Riza admitted that Alves nearly didn’t get the chance to prove himself in the division.
Due to a past ACL injury and having split his time between Leicester’s first team and Under-21s this season, Alves hasn’t seen much action over the last two years. Nonetheless, Riza, who has coached him in England’s youth setup, is confident in his abilities despite his limited recent game time.
“We need players with blistering pace who can intimidate the opposition,” Riza said before the game. “Will can do that. He needs gradual integration since he hasn’t played much senior football, and not many managers would have taken a punt on someone with his profile right now.
“I’ve worked with him and know what he’s capable of and the kind of character he has. It’s great to give young players an opportunity and trust that they’ll repay you with energy, intensity, and respect. I’m sure he’ll make a significant impact—he’s a very exciting young talent that fans will really appreciate.”
