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Neil Warnock claims Kenneth Zohore is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after finally getting to the bottom of his injury problem, admitting his return to could be key to Cardiff City’s bid to be even better.

But Warnock is still prepared to wait until the start of 2018 before unleashing the Danish star back into the Championship promotion race.

Zohore has missed almost two months of action after an ankle problem was compounded by the discovery of problems from a previous injury that eventually saw the 23-year-old undergo surgery.

An initial ligament problem was diagnosed as to be cured by rest, only for Zohore to complain of further pain and leave Warnock doubting his desire to return.

But after specialists discovered old scar tissue and advised for the frontman to go under the knife, Warnock reckons Zohore is now well on his way to recovery.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

“He was in so much pain and we talked about him running it off, going through the pain because it was scar tissue,” said Warnock, speaking ahead of Monday’s trip to Reading. “But he was adamant how painful it was and we might have doubted it – I might have doubted it as well.

“But when the surgeon went in it was one of the worst he’d ever seen, he had never seen so much scar tissue in one area, so the pain was legitimate.

“We’ve got to the bottom of it now and sorted it and you can see the relief on his face because he knows he just has to get himself fit.

“I know it sounds silly when he is injured, but he looks bright again because he knows we’ve got to the bottom of his problem.”

Zohore’s absence has been a big blow for Warnock’s side with the player wanted by Brighton and Everton this summer initially only predicted to miss one week – but has so far been unavailable for Cardiff’s last eight games. Including his match-winning strike in the opening day win at Burton, last year’s top scorer has managed just three goals so far this term.

Yet, with summer signings Danny Ward and Omar Bogle stepping in, the Bluebirds have shown a strength in depth to continue their impressive form, heading into Monday’s clash at Reading second in the table and currently six points clear of the chasing pack.

But Warnock reckons Zohore’s return will prove his prediction that his men can improve in the second-half of the season to live up to their promotion promise – yet he’s still not ready to risk him.

“We’re just happy going along as we are, I am sure people like Sheffield United are are as well,” said Warnock after last Friday’s win over Norwich made it four successive wins for the Bluebirds. “We were not supposed to be up there. So Let’s treat it like a bonus but lets enjoy it.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)



“Because I think we can improve if we can just have a little bit of luck with injuries, we can improve in the new year, in the run-in.

“I think we have a lot more to come from two or three. Zohore hasn't even started yet, but he is looking lively now he’s back and looking just to get his fitness back.

I spoke to him at great length the day before yesterday and told him how important it is going to be now for him to get himself right. And it is the same for everybody we are going to need all these lads.

“He’ll be building up now, but I won’t rush him. We’re going to have him for 2018 and that is going to be important.

“Because of that, I won’t rush him over Christmas. You could say possibly the Fulham or Preston games, but I would doubt it because I don’t want to take a risk. I’d rather him be out for another game than then miss him for five or six.”

Warnock is keen for a return of Zohore and other injured stars, with Aron Gunnarsson again a doubt after it emerged his latest lay-off is also down to an historic problem.

Fringe frontman Frederic Gounongbe has also seen his hopes of breaking into the starting side dashed after a new injury that Warnock says could keep the Benin international out for months.

But, in better news, Kadeem Harris is back training while Rhys Healey and Lee Camp could be ready to take steps towards a first-team comeback in an Under-23 match next week. Jazz Richards is another of Cardiff’s regulars who has been hit by injury issues in recent weeks, undergoing surgery on an ankle injury suffered at the start of October.

“Although We've coped with all these injuries, like with Jazz, we just have to try and hang in there,” Warnock added. “I can’t fault the lads, we’re doing really well, the results have been – apart from the first half against Norwich – what we’ve deserved.”