Striker Jay Bothroyd is a former England under-21 international

Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd is facing a race against time to be fit for their Championship opener against Sheffield United on 8 August.

The talisman missed Cardiff's final pre-season warm-up against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday as the Spanish side lost 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones left Bothroyd out as he has a hamstring injury.

"Jay suffered an injury in the warm-up so we pulled him out of the team as a precaution," Jones told BBC Sport.

Jones is already without key midfielder Stephen McPhail, who has a undergone knee surgery, for two or three weeks.

On-loan midfielder Danny Drinkwater also may not be able to play as Cardiff cannot register him with the Football League currently as the club are under a transfer embargo as they have failed to lodge their end-of-year accounts.

Bothroyd was named in the starting line-up to play Deportivo but was replaced at the 11th hour by Ross McCormack for the defeat against the Spaniards on Saturday

Bothroyd is an integral part of Cardiff's team and his withdrawal from the Championship play-off final defeat to Blackpool with a calf injury in their final game of last season was a crucial moment in that game.

But Jones is hopeful that Bothroyd will be fit for the visit of Sheffield United to the Cardiff City Stadium in the opening weekend of the new Football League season.

"I think he will be alright," Jones reassured Cardiff fans.

"He cramped up and felt his hamstring when he was shooting before the game. So we'll pat him on the head and rub him down and hope he is okay."

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