After falling short of the play-offs yet again last year, Cardiff City were consigned to another year of Championship football.

Russell Slade has since departed the club and in came Paul Trollope. The financial fair play embargo has now been lifted. We can expect comings and goings from the club this summer.

The Premier League one season wonders are looking to rectify that title by returning to the top flight. In order to achieve this, they will have to rely on star players such as Bruno Ecuele Manga, Anthony Pilkington and David Marshall. Resisting offers and retaining the services of these players would be extremely beneficial to the Bluebirds' promotion hopes.

But behind these Cardiff stars are a dedicated core of reliable players who will provide the under-appreciated driving force behind a promotion push next season. These lesser recognised players are actually more helpful to the team than initially they may seem.

Here are the THREE most under-appreciated Cardiff City players...

Aron Gunnarsson

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Aron Gunnarsson

Icelandic midfield hard man Aron Gunnarsson is a classic under-appreciated central midfielder. He does the dirty work in the middle of the park which often goes unnoticed: tackling, intercepting, simple passes, etc.

The long serving 27-year-old signed from Coventry in 2011 and has made just shy of 200 appearances for the Bluebirds.

His long throw is devastating and he is now well accustomed to life in the Championship, having played in the second flight since 2008 (with the exception of Cardiff's one Premier League season).

Joe Ralls

joe ralls

Another holding midfielder whose contributions are often forgotten. He was signed from Aldershot in Malky Mackay's first season with Neal Ardley having to convince the board to give him a chance.

Now aged 22, Joe Ralls is a regular in Cardiff's starting line-up and has played almost 100 games for the Welsh club.

The former England under-19 international is a very tidy and technical central midfielder who keeps things ticking over for Cardiff.

Lex Immers

Lex Immers

Immers is highly rated by those at Cardiff but not so well known outside the club. The 30-year-old arrived on loan from Feyenoord as a virtual unknown, having spent the entirety of his career in Netherlands before January.

He made an immediate impact and scored 5 goals in 15 matches before his loan expired.

He has since signed a permanent contract and will rejoin the Bluebirds on the 1st July. The attacking midfielder will be a key man in next year's campaign.