The 19-year-old made his debut for his new loan club by coming off the bench in the second half and playing through extra time, helping the Bluebirds secure a penalty shootout win over Stoke.
Cardiff City took a chance on Leicester City prospect Will Alves—a gamble many clubs might have avoided—and it seems to be paying dividends already.
Alves was given his first senior appearance during their FA Cup win over Stoke, and in just 40 minutes on the pitch, he managed to excite the Cardiff fans. Initially brought on to operate on the right wing, he quickly shifted to the left, impressing with his dribbling, direct running, and overall threat in the final third. In only his sixth senior appearance, he managed to beat a couple of defenders and create a couple of scoring opportunities.
Journalist Paul Abbandonato remarked, “My first impression of Alves is that he’s exactly what Cardiff have been crying out for—fast, direct, skilful, and ready to race to the byline.”
The youngster now looks set to compete for a starting role when Cardiff take on fellow relegation rivals Portsmouth on Tuesday night. However, Cardiff boss Omer Riza admitted that Alves almost missed his chance to shine in this division. Due to a previous ACL injury and splitting time between Leicester’s first team and Under-21s this season, Alves hasn’t played much over the past two years. But having coached him in England’s youth setup, Riza is confident in his abilities despite his limited recent game time.
“We need players with blistering pace who can intimidate the opposition,” Riza said before the game. “Will can do that. He needs to be gradually introduced since he hasn’t had much senior football, and not many managers would have taken a chance on a player with his background right now.
“I’ve worked with him and know what he’s capable of and the kind of character he is. It’s great to give young players an opportunity and trust that they’ll repay you with energy, intensity, and respect. I’m sure he’ll make a significant impact—he’s an exciting young talent that fans will really appreciate.”
