'Absolutely incredible' Cardiff City star can 'blow things up' - Chelsea FC transfer return could be eyed in 2026 | OneFootball

Omari Kellyman has struggled to stamp his authority on the Cardiff City side since joining on loan from Chelsea in the summer

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Omari Kellyman joined Cardiff City on loan in the summer from Chelsea in a bid to get some more senior minutes under his belt, but he has yet to have made the desired impact since switching to the Welsh capital - though there is every indication the playmaker will truly kick into gear as the campaign toils on.

It's so far, so good for Cardiff City in League One this season.

Following relegation to the third tier last season, with neither Erol Bulut, Omer Riza, nor Aaron Ramsey able to keep the Bluebirds afloat, Cardiff appointed Irish head coach Brian Barry-Murphy to lead them into the new campaign.

The former Rochdale and Manchester City youth head coach has the Welsh outfit sitting at the top of the League One table after 18 games, four points clear of 2nd place Bradford City, with the club eyeing an immediate return to the Championship.

Barry-Murphy has integrated the likes of Ronan Kpakio, Dylan Lawlor, and Joel Colwill into the side this season, but has largely kept the core of the squad which suffered relegation last season, as well as a few summer additions.

One of those was Omari Kellyman, who joined the League One club on loan from Chelsea for the season, though the attacking midfielder has yet to have made the desired impact, making 16 appearances in all competitions, scoring just once without assisting.

Omari Kellyman has been backed to be a 'very enjoyable watch' at Cardiff City once he hits the ground running

Football League World's Cardiff fan pundit, Matt, has shared his views on whether he have been impressed by Kellyman since his arrival in the Welsh capital.

When asked whether Kellyman has impressed and whether he is not as fancied as other players, Matt explained that while Kellyman is yet to really stand out due to the way in which he has been rotated in and out of the squad, he has shown glimpses of real talent - namely his "absolutely incredible" dribbling.

There is a feeling among the Bluebirds faithful that the very best is yet to come from Kellyman. Indeed, Matt believes that the mercurial playmaker will come into his own during the latter stages of the season, and if he does so to help Cardiff return to the Championship at the very first attempt, he would like the Bluebirds to try and bring Kellyman back to the Welsh capital next term.

Matt said: No, I haven't been massively impressed just yet, but I also haven't been disappointed either.

"I think he's had two standout games. His game against Wrexham and his game against Mansfield, both in different positions. Against Wrexham, it was on the right-hand side; against Mansfield, it was as the number 10.

"I think he has had good sparks when he's come on in games as well. I think the best sign that we've had of him is when he's played as a very much tucked-in wide man with Ronan Kpakio overlapping and providing the pace and width on that side. That's been the most dangerous Omari Kellyman we've seen.

"He's shown his decisiveness, his ability to make the right decisions, and it's really opened space up for him. And some of his dribbling is absolutely incredible.

"I don't think anyone's necessarily concerned that he hasn't hit the ground running because of his injury history. He is someone that we need to ease into this season.

"I think he's one of those players that you look at on loan and think that the final 15 to 20 games of the season are where he may come into his own and really blow things up, and really start to move the needle a little bit.

"He's shown enough glimpses, and it's really important that he's a left-footed player as well. We need that balance in our squad. His set pieces are pretty decent as well.

"I'd like to see him get more shots off, personally. I can't think of many shots he's had other than the one against Reading, which he scored from. But I think there are enough layers to his game that he will improve as the season goes by.

"If we got promoted, and he did impress towards the back end of the season, I don't think there would be any reason why he can't then get another loan here.

"I think as far as why he's not being fancied, I wouldn't say he's not being fancied.

"I think Rubin Colwill is our out-and-out best number 10. And then you look at different game situations, for example, midweek (1-0 away victory at Stevenage) was a scrappy game.

"Joel Colwill is more of a player built for a scrap, and then, in other games, you've looked at Callum Robinson and thought that we just need someone who is more of a box threat, and that is what it is, and Kellyman has sort of fit onto that right-hand side.

"I think the biggest thing for him will be once Ollie Tanner is back (from injury). Does he get consistent games as a number 10? Because we won't necessarily need that right-footed player out wide.

"But either way, I think there's more to come, and I think it's going to be a very enjoyable watch when he does hit the ground running."

Omari Kellyman has struggled to break into the Cardiff City under Brian Barry-Murphy since his summer loan switch from Chelsea

Kellyman has long been a hot prospect in English football, but has yet to stamp his authority in the men's senior game at 20-years-old.

The attacking-midfielder spent much of his youth career with Derby County before moving to Aston Villa in 2022, where he would spend just over two years, making six senior appearances for the Villains before a reported £19 million move to Chelsea in the summer of 2024.

The hefty price tag is largely speculated to be for FFP reasons, with Chelsea academy graduate Ian Maatsen heading in the opposite direction, as both clubs booked in pure profit from the transfer fees.

Since joining Chelsea, Kellyman's career has somewhat stalled, yet to make a first-team appearance for the Blues since his arrival over a year ago, before being subsequently sent out on loan with Cardiff this summer.

Kellyman has had to compete with the likes of Cian Ashford, Chris Willock and Rubin Colwill for a place in the side, and has so far managed just five League One starts in ten appearances. It's worth noting, of course, that Cardiff and parent club Chelsea have both been carefully managing the prospect's fitness and minutes after he missed the bulk of the previous campaign through injury.