Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has hit back at recent criticism from the club legend and former striker Craig Bellamy, report Wales Online.

Bellamy expressed concern at Warnock's refusal to pick the promising youngsters at the club's disposal in an interview with The Sunday Times but the Bluebirds boss has now hit back in his pre match press conference.

"I think he was misled, really," he said, reported by WalesOnline.

"But if I had any youngsters good enough they would be in the team, that’s what I would say to him.

"The first time I met with Craig we talked about the under 18s and I said I wanted them to be pushing them through to the first team."

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Bellamy was formerly in charge of the academy at the Cardiff City Stadium but stepped down earlier this year after claims of bullying emerged - claims which he denied.

He now resides in Belgium, working in the same role for Anderlecht.

This weekend sees Cardiff welcome Bristol City to South Wales for the first instalment of the Severnside Derby this season.

The Robins currently sit in sixth place with 15 games played, eight places ahead of Warnock's side, although a win for the Bluebirds will see them rise to within a point of their rivals.

The verdict

I think Warnock has every right to defend himself here.

As much as Bellamy has experience within the Cardiff youth set-up, he is not there now and things change quickly in football.

So as much as he is entitled to his opinion, I wouldn't listen to anybody else on the matter other than Warnock, who will be getting constant feedback on player progression and will know as soon as any of them young guns are ready for the step-up.