Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer happy with Cardiff City quality

Image source, Reuters

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is pleased with the quality of the squad he has inherited from sacked boss Malky Mackay but is keen to strengthen it.

The Norwegian took charge of his new team for the first time on Saturday as they came from a goal down to win at Newcastle in the FA Cup third round.

"I have a solid foundation here but it's a long season," Solskjaer said.

"The quality is there. We have got loads of quality to work with and then maybe some additions to blend in."

He added: "It's the longest and hardest and most intense season in any football country, so the depth of the squad is something I am looking at."

Solskjaer is close to signing Norwegian midfield pair Mats Moller Daehli and Magnus Wolff Eikrem.

The 40-year-old former Manchester United and Norway striker was in the stands to see Cardiff lose 2-0 at Arsenal in the Premier League before being confirmed as Cardiff manager.

Solskjaer then sent out his new charges in the FA Cup, as substitutes Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell scored to earn Cardiff their first win at St James' Park in 51 years and he likes what he has seen so far.

"Of course we have not had a lot of time on the training ground, so we have had to go through a few things in the meetings," Solskjaer added.

"But the foundation is there. The performance against Arsenal, that was, for me, very pleasing to see.

"It was very exciting to see the way they defended against a top, top, top team - Arsenal - away from home.

"They lasted 88 minutes and that was a good performance.

"For me, it was just to build on that a few things going forward, and we defended fantastically [at Newcastle].

"It was great and pleasing for the lads and we have got something to build on."

Cardiff's reward for beating Newcastle is a trip to play Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup, with the tie to be played on the weekend of 25-26 January.

Solskjaer's next test is Saturday's league game at home to fellow strugglers West Ham United, who are second from bottom in the table, but just three points behind the Bluebirds.