These are the headlines from Cardiff City ahead of Christmas 2023.

Ugbo see you next year

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut has revealed that Ike Ugbo will be out until next year due to injury.

The striker did not play against Sheffield Wednesday and when asked about his absence after the game, Bulut confirmed that the loanee has a hamstring injury.

“He’s hurt,” Bulut said. “He has a hamstring, I think it’s a first-grade hamstring, I think he’s going to be out for 10 days, since the last game.”

That means he will miss the matches against Plymouth Argyle (Boxing Day) and Leicester City (December 29) and probably the trip to Queens Park Rangers on New Year’s Day.

Grant: We’re in this together.

Carlan Grant says fans saw the cohesion of the Cardiff team after their victory at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The Bluebirds scored two late goals, the first from Grant himself, as Bulut’s men halted their disappointing form at Hillsborough.

“It was important for us to get back to normal,” he said after the game. “It was a complicated game, they made it difficult for us. But you could see the confidence in the team and in the end we managed to win. I rejoice.

“You could see the cohesion: we were getting closer and closer to each other. Not everything went very well with the ball, but you could see the celebration with our fans. It was a great feeling. The coach wanted me to go into the middle of the field and try to make a few runs behind and get the ball and I thought I did that. Fortunately, he had space to attack.

“I played number 10, wing and number 9. I think he felt we needed a bit of pace in the middle and I thought he brought that.”

Cardiff now face Plymouth on Boxing Day in the Welsh capital and Grant believes everyone is moving in the right direction and, most importantly, with each other.

“Apart from the Hull game and the Southampton game, we have always been involved in every game we have played so far, it has always been very close,” he said.

“We all really came together and had our one chance and then everything changed. Then we managed to come around and score the second goal, so I’m grateful. This is the championship for you!

“I think we achieved a lot this season. Many new players have arrived and we are all fighting for each other. “Today is a big win and now we can enjoy Christmas with our loved ones before the big win on Boxing Day.”

Mohamed likes it!

Cardiff’s latest winner got a great reception at the BBC’s Final Score studio, with Bluebirds fan Jason Mohammad loving Kion Etete’s winner.

“Late drama in Hillsborough!” he said before walking over to inform Naz Premji on the ground.

Premji responds, “Good news for you Jason, things have changed! Sheffield Wednesday first, Cardiff second, Kion Etete scoring from close range, Sheffield Wednesday first, Cardiff second.”

The camera cuts to Mohammad in the Salford studio, where he shouts, claps and slaps his knee: “Come on! I love football, I love football, especially at Christmas! Don’t you love football?