Matthews limped out of Wales U21's defeat to Bosnia-Hercegovina

Cardiff City defender Adam Matthews will miss Saturday's Championship clash at Barnsley due to a groin injury.

The 17-year-old was forced to limp out of Wales Under-21's 2-1 defeat by Bosnia-Hercegovina on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Kevin McNaughton is desperate to play his first senior game of the season after returning to fitness.

"The lads have done a brilliant job to get us into third in the league and if I'm picked, I want to help us push on from there," said McNaughton.

The Scottish defender played 45 minutes at left-back for the Bluebirds reserves in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Hereford.

Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra are also available for the trip to Barnsley, but Anthony Gerrard has picked up a calf problem.

Whittingham is back to fitness after a knee injury and Chopra available after suspension.

McNaughton, sporting a natty moustache in support of the Movember charity, has been out since damaging ankle ligaments in a pre-season friendly with Celtic.

"I'm feeling fine," he told the Cardiff website after the Hereford game. "The half I played was another step forward for me.

"The big thing is to get match practice because you can only get so much out of training.

"This injury has been a nightmare. It's the longest I've ever been out.

"I've had a couple of hamstring injuries during my career, but the longest I've been out before this was eight weeks.

"I need to get back in action, I'm hopeless as a spectator.

"I went to the Swansea match and didn't enjoy it at all, although the result certainly didn't help.

"The nearest I've been to the first team this season was when I was on the bench against Palace, but I didn't get on the pitch."

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