Angry, injured, axed - The emerging problem Cardiff City want to nail in January

Cardiff's striker options are hampered by injury, frustration and selection issues, with Yousef Salech facing criticism despite eight goals in 14 games.

Cardiff City have four centre-forward options on paper, but manager Brian Barry-Murphy faces a significant problem heading into January. Yousef Salech remains the club's standout No.9, a physical presence capable of bullying defenders and anchoring the attack.

He has scored eight goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, including five in 12 Championship matches, yet has drawn criticism for his finishing despite Cardiff creating chances at a high rate.

Salech's frustration boiled over after Cardiff's 5-4 comeback win over Burnley on Saturday. Introduced from the bench with the team trailing 4-1, he scored twice to help transform the match, but his celebration was noticeably muted. After the game, he shared abusive social media messages he had received, including insults calling him a "fraud" and "donkey", with some fans urging the club to sell him in January.

The other three striker options are similarly problematic: one is injured, another has been frozen out, and a third is more effective elsewhere. Barry-Murphy is understood to be keen to address the centre-forward position when the transfer window opens.