Man City starlet sets Cardiff City transfer standard and the golden rule which must not be broken – Wales Online

There was no one more deserving of scoring a winner for Cardiff City against Huddersfield Town than Tommy Doyle.

In a proper, all-action Championship clash, with the wind howling and rain belting down, Doyle displayed a maturity and calm which belied his 20 years.

When he took that delicately-weighted pass from Jordan Hugill on the hour mark, there was very much still work to do. He had to muscle his way past two defenders while driving into the box before coolly lofting over Lee Nicholls in the Terriers net.

As the game ticked towards its 90th minute, Doyle looked to have netted the winning goal. Of course, as we know, Josh Koroma and Jon Russell had something to say about that.

Nevertheless, that first Cardiff goal was a long time coming for the Manchester City loanee, who has impressed to no end since joining the club last month.

"I'm really, really pleased for him," manager Steve Morison said of the goal.

"He said he hadn't scored yet as he was walking out today! So he was due a goal.

"It was a really well-worked goal. I knew we would have the moments, like we did in the first half, it's just a shame a couple didn't fall to him in the first half."

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Even before that goal, Doyle was the instigator-in-chief for many of Cardiff's chances. He plonked two delightful crosses on to the heads of Mark McGuinness and Hugill in the first half, only for both to be sent directly at the goalkeeper. Later in the first half, he forced Nicholls into an excellent reaction save when he followed in on a blocked Cody Drameh strike, forcing the Terriers man to tip his effort from close range over the bar.

Given his age, the consistency of his performances over the course of his nine-game Bluebirds career has been remarkable.

Playmakers are famously inconsistent, of course, given the nature of the position, trying to fashion chances out of nothing, but Doyle defies that. He has perhaps had only one, maybe two games in which he has failed to really influence matches as he would like.

It is clear to see why Manchester City made him their under-23s captain, too, as he barks orders to players 10 years his senior and dictates the tempo of play with a simple drop of the shoulder or foot on the ball.

For those unable to watch the games regularly, his work rate is utterly staggering, too. It is reminiscent of a prime David Beckham, haring around like a butcher's dog while defying logic as he shows no sign of fatigue on the ball when possession is regained.

Before kick-off at the John Smith's Stadium, it was interesting to note that Rubin Colwill was undergoing his own, one-to-one fitness drills. He was a travelling squad member and Morison confirmed he was fit, just not selected.

Doyle is the perfect example of what Colwill must strive to be next season and beyond. Colwill is undoubtedly a gifted footballer with the ball at his feet, but his decision-making must eventually match the level of Doyle as well as his work off the ball. It's something Morison has tasked Colwill with working on and it is hoped Doyle's presence will help the young Welshman see the benchmark.

Colwill will have a greater influence on proceedings next season. But even so, Cardiff will have to look to replace Doyle in the summer because the entire creative burden cannot be lumped on Colwill's shoulders once again next term.

Doyle has no doubt set the transfer standard for that position now, though. It's the double-edged sword with these young players.

This is the England youth international's first proper, senior loan in this country and he, like many before him, will shoot into the wider public conscious now and have other clubs further up the football pyramid clamouring for his signature next season, no doubt.

It is a golden rule of football fandom, but Bluebirds supporters must refrain from falling in love with loan players. It happens time and time again and only ends in heartache when they eventually venture off for pastures new.

It will be more difficult than most with Doyle, actually, because he really gets it. He loves it, too. After every goal he celebrates wildly with fans, produces an ayatollah on command and speaks about them as though he's known them all of his life.

But Cardiff's big challenge is to find another one in the summer. Doyle's arrival, along with others, of course, has sparked new life into this Bluebirds attack.

Morison bemoaned the team's lack of product in the final third before the January window, we haven't heard any more on that front since Doyle and the like arrived. He has made a huge difference and will continue to do so until the season's end.

Planning has already begun for next season although, as Morison alluded to this week, no concrete decisions can be made until the manager's future is cleared up and the search for the next Tommy Doyle is doubtless under way.

Anything less than the benchmark set by this supremely-talented Man City lad, though, will now be deemed a disappointment.

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Man City starlet sets Cardiff City transfer standard and the golden rule which must not be broken - Wales Online