Carling Cup clashes with internationals

Last updated : 10 August 2011 By Michael Morris

mackayThe madness of international matches being played at the same time as senior first team club games has prompted Malky Mackay to suggest playing the Carling Cup first round games a week earlier

"For us to be asked to play this with eight players away disappoints me," said Mackay.

"I find that remarkable that we're playing a cup game when we've got eight players missing on international duty.

"It was a decision taken by the clubs and the league. Personally I think they should play this round the week before the season starts.

"It would look as if we were putting out a weakened team if we did this on a normal basis and maybe punished for it.

"But it's the way it is. There's nothing I can do and we'll be making sure we go with everything we've got.

"That will include youth team players that haven't had any sign of even training with us before.

"We're going to have a tough game against Oxford. We'll apply ourselves properly and will be going there to make sure we try and win.

"But it doesn't help if you've got so many first-team players missing."

Tonight's fixtures involving Cardiff City players:

Oxford Utd v Cardiff City
Wales v Australia
Scotland v Denmark
Côte d'Ivoire v Israel
Hungary v Iceland

Last night Joe Mason played the second half for Republic of Ireland U21's as they beat Austria 2 - 1 in Sligo.