Cardiff want Ramsey loan extended

Last updated : 20 February 2011 By BBC Sport

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is to talk with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on extending Aaron Ramsey's one-month loan spell at the Championship high-fliers.Ramsey was signed by Cardiff in the January transfer window as he continues his recovery from a double leg break.

The Wales midfielder has made four starts for Cardiff during February.

"We assumed he was going back after the month and if we can get him for longer than that, then that conversation I will have with Arsene," said Jones.

Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Alex Song and England international Jack Wilshire's performances in the Arsenal midfield will have pleased Jones who hopes to keep Ramsey at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The 20-year-old playmaker has so far not lost a game in his loan stay back in south Wales.

And Jones would have been an interested observer as Arsenal's midfield excelled in their Champions League last 16 first-leg 2-1 win over Barcelona on Wednesday.

Ramsey is set to play at Nottingham Forest on Saturday and Leicester City on Tuesday but is due to return to the Premier League title-chasers after Cardiff's Championship clash with Hull City on Saturday, 26 February.

But Jones said: "I don't think he's at the fitness levels to go back to Arsenal yet, then I'm going to say that because we want to keep him.

"He's enjoying himself here. He's with us for some more games and we will see where we go from there.

"Aaron's doing well. It will be down to Aaron and Arsenal themselves to see what they think and where he's at. But if we can keep him then fantastic."

Ramsey signed for Arsenal from Cardiff as a teenager for ?5m in June 2008 but has returned to south Wales following a five-match, two-month loan spell with Championship rivals Nottingham Forest .

He signed a new long-term Arsenal deal in June 2010 - a boost after he suffered a double leg break following a tackle by Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross in February 2010.

Ramsey underwent surgery to fix fractures to his tibia and fibula in his right leg after the challenge by Shawcross, who was sent off for the challenge and left the field in tears.

He made his return to action for Forest during his two-month loan spell at the City Ground against Leicester City on 29 November.

Ramsey returned to the Emirates Stadium earlier in January, but Wenger then sent the 20-year-old to Cardiff in a bid for him to build up his match fitness.

Ramsey will be just one of a few players with Cardiff-Forest connections in Saturday's second-placed versus fourth-placed showdown at the City Stadium.

His Wales team-mates and former Cardiff favourites Rob Earnshaw and Chris Gunter will line-up for Forest.

"You always enjoy playing against your old side, so that will be the added bit of spice," said Jones.

"I think that's more the fans take on it but of course you enjoy going back and you want to do well."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport