COLWILL WORRY CASTS CLOUD AS CITY GO TOP

CARDIFF City are braced for bad news after Rubin Colwill limped out of Saturday's win at Northampton Town with what boss Brian Barry-Murphy fears is a "serious" ankle injury.

- GLEN WILLIAMS

Cardiff City's Yousef Salech wins the ball from Northampton's Terry Taylor and Jack Burroughs

(Picture: Leila Coker/Huw Evans Agency)

The Wales international lasted just 20 minutes at Sixfields before going down awkwardly and was later seen leaving the ground on crutches.

Barry-Murphy confirmed Colwill has damaged ankle ligaments and warned the early signs are not encouraging.

"On first glance it looks pretty serious," he said. "The nature of the injury suggests it won't be short term.

"I think Rubin will be out for a period for sure I don't want to speculate, because I don't know."

Colwill, 23, has been one of City's most influential players this season, starting every league game and driving the Bluebirds' promotion charge.

While the length of his absence is as yet unknown, earlier this season Ollie Tanner suffered ankle ligament damage away at Wimbledon and has since spent three months on the sideline.

His early withdrawal didn't derail Cardiff, though, with goals from Joel Colwill and Chris Willock, plus an Ethan Wheatley own goal, sending them back to the top of League One.

There was further concern when Joel Colwill was also forced off with a knee gash, but Barry-Murphy played down fears over the younger brother.

"Joel's is a cut, so he should be back pretty quickly," he said.