Calum Scanlon(Image: Getty Images)
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Brian Barry-Murphy admits he has already been taken aback by new signing Calum Scanlon, just days after the Liverpool loanee completed his loan move to Cardiff City.
The Bluebirds boss made the 20-year-old left-back his priority late in the January window and has wasted little time in talking up what he believes could be a major addition.
Scanlon has not played a senior game for over a year, when he was on loan at Millwall, due to a serious hamstring injury, but Barry-Murphy has been surprised by the levels he has already shown in Cardiff training. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
“I’m very pleased with the additions,” Barry-Murphy said. “As we got close to the end of the window there was a bit of uncertainty around getting Callum in, so that became the main priority. I’m delighted we managed to do that.
“He’s a brilliant addition. He’s already shown this week how ready he is. He actually surprised me a little bit because he hasn’t had loads of action, but he’s an elite player with an elite mentality.
“He wants to improve and we feel we can help him improve even more.”
Although capable of operating in a number of roles, the Cardiff head coach was clear about where he sees him.
“He is a left-back," said Barry-Murphy when asked about whether the player can operate further forward.
"I know he can play in different positions because of his profile and how adaptable he is, but we’ve brought him here as a left-back and we’ll treat him as that unless we need him elsewhere.”
Barry-Murphy revealed Scanlon was a player he wanted earlier in the season but had to wait for. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
“I would have taken him in the summer but he wasn’t available," he added "We’ve been patient. He’s come through the period from August to January without problems and now he’s good to go.
“He hasn’t played 90 minutes — I think he played around 65 for Liverpool’s Under-21s last Friday — but he looks in a really good place. He was desperate to play for Cardiff and has an elite mentality. We just have to assess how ready he is compared to others for the upcoming games.”
Asked what drew him to the youngster, Barry-Murphy said: “I know him well from his journey and have seen a lot of him. He’s an elite, dynamic and skilful player with lots of room to improve.
“His appetite to come and play for this club in this division was clear from the first conversation. I think he’ll be brilliant for us.”
Scanlon’s arrival also ramps up competition at left-back, where Joel Bagan has impressed this season, something team-mate Chris Willock, who hailed the defender's lightning speed on the training ground, believes can only be a positive.
“He’s a good player,” Willock said. “We’ve trained with him a couple of times, he looks very fast! So I’m looking forward to playing with him.
“I think Bagan has done really well. But it’s always good to have someone in your position to keep you going and fighting for your spot, so I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
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