Cardiff City manager Dave Jones has just one fully fit central midfielder

Dave Jones hopes to bolster his central midfield reinforcements in the January transfer window, admitting the engine room is Cardiff City's "problem area."

The Bluebirds boss must contend with injury worries in that crucial position as Riccardo Scimeca and Joe Ledley are playing through the pain of injuries.

While experienced midfielder Stephen McPhail is out until the new year as he is undergoing cancer treatment.

Jones admits: "The only problem we have is in central midfield."

Teenage midfielder Aaron Wildig made his league debut in Cardiff's superb Championship win at second-placed West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday as a half-time replacement for injury-hit Scimeca.

Cardiff chief Jones praised the 17-year-old academy graduate's mature performance in a victory that moved the Bluebirds up to third in the division.

Wildig will join Ledley and Scimeca in the initial squad for their weekend journey to Middlesbrough.

Ledley is suffering a long-standing hip problem that the club have confirmed needs surgery - which would ensure a three-month absence - to rectify but the Wales international is battling through the problem but Cardiff insist he is fit.

I have spoken to Solomon and he has to step up to the plate Cardiff City boss Dave Jones

Scimeca has suffered an injury prone spell since joining the Welsh club from West Brom in 2006 but has returned to the first-team in McPhail's absence.

However, the 34-year-old is suffering fatigue and a groin problem so will face a late fitness text for Sunday's trip to the Riverside.

McPhail was diagnosed with stage one MALT lymphoma, a form of cancer, last month and is set to return after treatment in January.

So Scottish international Gavin Rae is the only experienced central midfielder in Cardiff's squad as Wildig and recent signing Solomon Taiwo are rookies at this level.

"It is a problem area for us because Riccy is struggling with his groin and Joe is struggling," admits manager Jones.

"We hope to have Steve McPhail back early in the new year.

"We may get Joe through January but we'll have to keep reassessing him. If Joe does deteriorate and need to have the operation.

"But we have to look at all possibilities if they are not going to be back at the time we expect them to be back.

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"We have to look at all different options in all positions, hoping that come January there will be some funds there to go out an get some players."

Cardiff have won back-to-back fixtures against Preston and West Brom and Jones hopes to continue the good run to put pressure on chairman Peter Ridsdale to splash out and strengthen any promotion push.

But the boss has called on new boy Solomon Taiwo, a £250,000 summer signing from League Two Dagenham and Redbridge, to prove his worth in the Championship.

"I have spoken to Solomon and he has to step up to the plate," said Jones.

"He has found it difficult to find his feet but any player you bring from lower league has to readjust. We knew it might take some time."

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