Curtis Nelson has made just the two league appearances since signing for Cardiff City in the summer from Oxford United, however his full league debut at the weekend against Birmingham City showed promising signs.

The defender was in the right place from a goal-mouth scramble to poke in and put the Bluebirds ahead to make it 2-1, and defensively he performed his duties asked of him to a tee, keeping the visiting Birmingham forwards quiet ahead the majority of the game.

Nelson and Aden Flint, also signed in the summer but from Middlesbrough, appear to have struck up an immediate partnership as the pair both put in accomplished performances at the heart of Neil Warnock's chosen back-line.

The 26-year-old, who came up through the Plymouth Argyle academy and represented their first team 248 times, is looking to establish himself in the Championship for the first time after nine years of being successful at League One and League Two level.

The defender has certainly not damaged his claim for a first team spot in Warnock's starting XI with a goal and a win on his full league debut, as the former Oxford United man will now be forced to battle it out with Cardiff captain Sean Morrison for a spot.

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Morrison, despite only being 28 years of age, isn't particularly quick when he has to pit himself in a foot-race with an opposition player, and Nelson would edge that battle as the defender's speed and physicality off the ball would be enough to please manager Warnock.

29-year-old Nelson was handed his opportunity in Morrison's absence due to the Bluebirds captain suffering a broken wrist in the 1-0 defeat to Swansea City the previous weekend, and the skipper's replacement Nelson will have the opportunity to continue his fine form when Bristol City come to town this Sunday.

The one thing that Nelson can do is take his opportunity when it comes to him, and that he has certainly started to do. However, the centre-back needs to once again take his chance against Lee Johnson's Bristol City side before the international break.

The centre-back will be over the moon at how his league debut went having netted a goal and looked steady after coming into a tight-knit defence, but he knows that his good form will need to continue to lock down that starting place.