By David Parsons
Kieffer Moore may be a friend, but he will also be a foe who has to be stopped at all costs when he returns to the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
That’s the view of Bluebirds midfield ace Ryan Wintle, who will be parking his friendship with the Wales striker for 90 vital minutes as he attempts to steer Cardiff to a fourth successive win over a team chasing a second successive promotion.
Hoes were high that Moore would make a return to the Welsh capital this season to try to help the push for the play-offs.
New boss Erol Bulut intended to get him back from Bournemouth before the season started, and then again in January.
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1766065215869714519?s=20
Instead, Moore went on loan to the Tractor Boys and has come up with five goals in eight games to push them to within three points of table-toppers Leicester City.
Those goals could have made a huge difference to his old club and More is likely to have to run the gauntlet of the fans who once loved him when he returns to his old stamping ground.
So, what type of reception will he get?
“I don’t know, you tell me! He is a great player and a friend of mine,” said Wintle.
“I’m sure that when he left it was because he had aspirations of playing in the Premier League. He’s played there now and will look back on good times he had here.
“You can’t say he won’t come back here at some point – you don’t know, do you? It’ll be good to see him on Saturday, but hopefully he doesn’t score.”
Erol Bulut tells Kieffer Moore 'we can be friends again' after Ipswich Town clash following failed Cardiff City transfer bids https://t.co/HAFmSm10GE pic.twitter.com/VWQwL3rEBI
— Cardiff City Online (@CardiffCityLive) March 8, 2024
Whatever the fans think, Wintle respects the decision taken by Moore, who will be returning to Cardiff City Stadium shortly as a Wales player in the play-offs for the Euros, to choose a loan move to Ipswich rather than Cardiff.
“He was looking at his own career. They were second in the league at the time,” said Wintle.
“If they get promoted to the Prem, and he signs there on a permanent deal, then it’s perfect for him. For him, it’s his career, we all talk differently. You never know if he will come back here at some time.”
One of the players brought in to provide goals for the Bluebirds after Moore opted to go to Ipswich, Famara Diedhiou, opened his account in the 1-0 win over Huddersfield in midweek. That made it 10 points out of a possible 12 in the last four games.
https://twitter.com/CardiffCityFC/status/1765709029798551830?s=20
Bulut was pleased to see his new man hit the target, he will be asking his defenders to keep an eye on Moore.
“We were planning for him at the start of the season and also in January. He made his decision to move to Ipswich, and we have to respect that,” said Bulut
“Now we are his opponents! After the game, when we win the game, we can be friends again!
“He has good quality as a striker – it’s what every team wants. That’s why we wanted him here.
“On Saturday, we have to stop him, which won’t be easy. Ipswich are in a different position, maybe getting promoted, so a player maybe decides to join those kinds of teams, rathere than a team who is in the eighth, ninth, 10th position.
“It is more possible for him to get promoted and to continue with the same team, that’s why I think he made the decision.”
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1766211895067808139?s=20