Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reveals big Cardiff City prediction - star tipped to "rip League One up" | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie spoke exclusively to Football League World about Cardiff City playmaker Rubin Colwill and his potential 2025/26 impact

Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has tipped Cardiff City's Rubin Colwill to "rip League One up" in the freshly-initiated 2025/26 campaign, with the playmaker inspiring his side's 2-1 opening-day victory over Peterborough United.

The Bluebirds suffered relegation from the Championship at the end of the previous campaign, finishing bottom of the table in what proved a historically abysmal season in the Welsh capital.

However, with a new emerging crop of talent coming to the fore under the tutelage of head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, who has skin in the game when it comes to cultivating young prospects after blooding through the likes of Oscar Bobb, Romeo Lavia, James McAtee and Cole Palmer during his time in charge of Manchester City's Elite Development Squad (EDS), there is real optimism as to what can be achieved in both the short and long-term future.

Cardiff remain the only third-tier outfit yet to complete a single signing this summer, though the capture of goalkeeper Nathan Trott is imminent with a further three additions expected before the end of the window to offset 13 departures to date. The young up-and-comers will have the floor in 25/26, though, as showcased in the lineup selected by Barry-Murphy for Peterborough's visit to the Welsh capital.

The Irishman named seven academy products in the starting XI, which had a remarkable average age of just 22 and only one player over the age of 23 in the form of 28-year-old midfielder Ryan Wintle.

Further youth system graduates in Isaak Davies, Eli King and Dakarai Mafico were named on the bench, too, with the former pair appearing as late substitutes.

The bold selection strategy paid dividends, as Cardiff played a fearless and aggressive brand of attacking football which saw them set the tempo early on and recover to overturn a two-goal deficit courtesy of stunning second-half goals from Colwill and wonderkid right-back Ronan Kpakio after falling behind to a Bradley Ihionvien penalty.

23-year-old Colwill, partnered by younger brother Joel in the middle of the park, enjoyed a particularly eye-catching afternoon, as he donned the captain's armband - having been handed the vice-captaincy by Barry-Murphy - and starred throughout, with his picture-book free-kick sparking Cardiff's comeback after the break.

Lee Hendrie reveals big Cardiff City, Rubin Colwill prediction in 25/26

Hendrie, who was commentating on Cardiff's curtain-raiser encounter for Sky Sports, lauded Colwill's "outstanding" display against Darren Ferguson's outfit and believes that the Bluebirds attacking midfielder can "rip League One up".

Colwill has been primed to have a leading impact for his boyhood side after being handed increased responsibility and opportunity by Barry-Murphy, impressing during pre-season with a number of head-turning goals and assists.

The 9-cap Welsh international has made 155 appearances for Cardiff since debuting back in 2021, but a combination of injuries, inconsistency and a lack of opportunities from previous managers such as Erol Bulut, Sabri Lamouchi and Steve Morison have perhaps prevented the talented midfielder from realising his undoubted potential, despite producing X-Factor moments with memorable goals against the likes of Bristol City, Liverpool, Queens Park Rangers and Southampton.

Many supporters have labelled this season, now in League One, as a make-or-break campaign for Colwill following a mixed 2024/25 term, but the early indication is that the gifted playmaker is going to step up to the mantle and enjoy his best year in a Cardiff shirt.

Hendrie subscribes to that school of thought, too, and has warned Cardiff about the threat of clubs in both the Championship and at an even higher level courting his services - even if Colwill surely looks set to stay beyond August.

"I did the game on Saturday and he was outstanding," Hendrie explained when speaking exclusively to Football League World.

"Watching him over pre-season, I think they'll definitely want to keep hold of him and that's why he's been given the armband.

"You look at that young squad of players and he's been around for quite some time, but he does need to hit the heights. I think this season is massive for him.

"For me, I'm tipping him to rip League One up. I really think he's got lots of ability and giving him the armband shows where he's at, they'll just want to get past this summer window as he's one I would definitely look at from a Championship level or beyond that.

"But he has got to prove that consistent level because that's one thing that he probably hasn't done in the past. But I think he's growing up and showing his maturity."

Brian Barry-Murphy is the perfect coach to get the very best out of Cardiff City's Rubin Colwill

Barry-Murphy has talked up Colwill's ability ever since his appointment - and he's far from the first to do so, of course. Colwill's talent is no secret, with opposition managers and supporters regularly left in awe of the Welshman's array of natural gifts, but getting a consistent demonstration has often proved a bigger challenge.

However, it does appear as though the tide has turned following Barry-Murphy's arrival, with his profile as a progressive, possession-based head coach with an emphasis on dominating the ball centrally and breaking defensive lines perfect for truly unlocking Colwill and taking his game to a new level.

Barry-Murphy is a huge fan of Colwill's, handing him both the praise and trust that has been absent under previous bosses and once again differing from the norm by, rather refreshingly, focusing on his strengths instead of his weaknesses. Regarded as something of a luxury player, Colwill has never been known for his work out of possession - though he did his bit on Saturday, it must be said.

Instead, Colwill's ability to progressively carry possession upfield and skip past opponents with ease, break lines, bring other teammates into the game and score from range - a knack which is becoming increasingly common - are all of the highest class and make him, in all honesty, a player far, far too talented for League One.

His skill level and footballing ceiling know precious few bounds if everything falls into place, and you get the feeling that's exactly what's going to happen for him under Barry-Murphy.