Colwill like Gazza at his peak - Warnock

NEIL Warnock has compared Cardiff City’s Rubin Colwill to legendary England midfielder Paul Gascoigne and says he once told the Welshman he would build a team around him.

- GLEN WILLIAMS Football Writer [e-mail]

The former Bluebirds boss, who guided the club to the Premier League in 2018, has been hugely impressed by Colwill’s form under Brian Barry-Murphy this season.

The 23-year-old is undoubtedly one of Cardiff's standout players, helping fire them into the League One promotion race and the quarterfinals of the EFL Cup, scoring four goals and producing four assists in his 17 outings so far this term.

Colwill’s displays including a man-of-the-match performance against Wrexham earlier this week have also impressed Wales boss Craig Bellamy, who recalled him to the national team squad last month.

Warnock says the playmaker is only just getting started.

"In my era, Gascoigne was the player everyone talked about - but you had to give him freedom,” Warnock told the BBC.

“He couldn’t really play in a rigid team system, but he was that good you made it work.

“I think Rubin's in that position now for Cardiff. He’s as good as anything in the Championship when he’s given that free role and the difference is, he works his socks off, too.”

Colwill’s journey to this point has not been a linear trajectory.