By LUKE AUGUSTUS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 04:50 EST, 16 December 2025 | Updated: 04:50 EST, 16 December 2025
Cardiff City are looking to cause a major shock in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night but will have to do so without one of their key players.
The League One outfit host Chelsea in the quarter-finals stages at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff are the only non-Premier League side still in the draw and if they are to reach the semi-finals they will achieve it without the services of Omari Kellyman.
Kellyman has been blocked to play for the Bluebirds as he is on loan from Chelsea this season.
Unlike Premier League and FA Cup rules, players on loan can play against their parent clubs in the League Cup.
However, Chelsea have denied their opponents the opportunity to do so.
Chelsea have blocked Omari Kellyman playing against them for his loan side Cardiff City
Kellyman joined Chelsea from Aston Villa last summer and is currently on loan at the Bluebirds
Chelsea travel to the Welsh capital for their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night
Last month, Cardiff made a tentative verbal request but did not have written permission from Chelsea over the availability of Kellyman once the quarter-final draw was revealed.
This is not the first time Chelsea have taken this stance, denying a similar request from Crystal Palace to allow Conor Gallagher to play against them in 2022.
However, in 2018 they let Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori play against them for Derby County after granting the Rams special dispensation to do so.
Kellyman joined Chelsea in a £19million transfer from Aston Villa in June 2024 on a six-year contract.
His first year at the club was blighted by several hamstring injuries and underwent corrective surgery for the issue in March.
Now returning to fitness, the 20-year-old has featured 17 times for Cardiff, scoring twice - including their opener in Saturday's 4-3 win over Doncaster Rovers.