Jay Bothroyd will lead the Cardiff attack this season

Dave Jones has told new striker Jay Bothroyd to 'settle down' at Cardiff City and finally realise his potential.

Boss Jones hopes the former England Under-21 international will provide the firepower for Cardiff's play-off push.

"Everyone talks about his potential but how long do you keep talking about potential?" said Jones.

"Jay has had the big flashy cars and needs some stability in his career. He has moved about a lot but needs to settle down and play some football."

Jones signed former Arsenal trainee Bothroyd for �300,000 from Championship rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.

And he could make his competitive debut in Cardiff's season opener against Southampton on Saturday.

Cardiff are 26-year-old's eighth club in an often colourful career where he has made as many headlines off the pitch as he has made on it.

But Bothroyd said: "I've seen the headlines and I want to prove people wrong by scoring goals consistently.

I have my strongest squad since I arrived here at Cardiff three years ago Cardiff City boss Dave Jones

"I feel like I'm ready to settle down, get my head down and do my talking on the pitch."

Jones has a record of inspiring talented players to realise their potential as the Cardiff boss helped transform Michael Chopra into a Premier League striker.

Jones said: "I have told Jay what I think.

"We know he is a big, strong, quick player with some silky touches who can score goals but not as often as he should do.

"Maybe he'll find a home here at Cardiff, somewhere he can settle. But we can only give him a stage, the rest is up to him."

Bothroyd is one of seven summer signings at the FA Cup finalists.

He has joined defensive duo Miguel Comminges and Darren Dennehy, goalkeepers Peter Enckelman and Tom Heaton, winger Mark Kennedy and striker Ross McCormack at Ninian Park.

City stars Joe Ledley, Roger Johnson, Glenn Loovens and Peter Whittingham were all linked with moves away from South Wales but Jones has kept a majority of his Wembley heroes.

Teenage prodigy Aaron Ramsey was the only departure following his �5m move to Premier League giants Arsenal.

"I believe I have my strongest squad since I arrived here at Cardiff three years ago," insisted Jones.

"I have kept the majority of my players from last year which was good we're in with a shout of promotion because we can compete in our own division.

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"We've have good starts and good spells in season but have never had the depth to compete over a season.

"This year we're more stable as a club, we've strength in depth and we haven't got to move people out to keep ourselves afloat.

"The Championship gets harder every season because there are 17 or 18 clubs genuinely vying for the ultimate prize.

"But I feel if our squad perform to their potential, we can be up there with the best of them.

"Every club is pretty much the same in the Championship this season except the six clubs in who are still getting parachute payments from the Premier League, they have an obvious financial advantage.

"The most consistent team, though, will be the one that reaches the holy grail."