Cardiff City's pursuit of their first Championship win of the season has received a boost with the return of Wales defender Dylan Lawlor. The 20-year-old centre-back is available for the Bluebirds' home fixture against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, having recovered from a knee injury that has kept him out of the 2026-27 season.
Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy confirmed Lawlor's readiness, stating, "Dylan will definitely be available, he's good to go." Lawlor, who made 43 appearances for club and country in 2025-26, returned to training this week. Barry-Murphy is considering his role for the upcoming match, noting, "He's trained really well. We'll see how he is today and tomorrow, then make a decision based on who we feel is best to start this game."
The return of Lawlor provides much-needed depth for Cardiff's defence, which has seen full-backs Perry Ng and Joel Bagan playing in central positions due to injuries. Fellow centre-back Will Fish, who also returned to training, will not be risked after hernia surgery and is expected to be available in another week. Cardiff remains without injured Wales internationals Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies, as well as defender Calum Chambers.