Cardiff City prospect Michael Reindorf hopes success in Saturday’s Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final against Aberystwyth Town (KO 14:30) can springboard his fledgling career.
The powerful forward arrived at the Bluebirds academy in the summer and a series of explosive performances in the Nathaniel MG Cup have helped fire him to the cusp of the first team.
Reindorf has played a key role in Cardiff U21s’ route to the semi-final, starting in all four rounds of competition so far while establishing himself as the competition’s top scorer with seven goals.
Having made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup in August, the 19-year-old was promoted to City’s first team training squad earlier this month by interim manager Omer Riza. Now on the verge of making his first league appearance for the Bluebirds, Reindorf believes his experiences from playing in the Nathaniel MG Cup have helped make all the difference.
“Playing against men has been a real challenge,” said Reindorf. “I’m still quite young and playing against men gives you a different dynamic – it gives you a more physical battle, whilst the intensity is still very high.
“It’s improving me physically and my thinking on the ball, off the ball. It’s helped me progress and get near to the first team.”
In what proved to be an enthralling quarter-final encounter with Cardiff Met, it was Reindorf who struck twice late on to keep City’s silverware hopes alive.
“Everytime, there has been a different challenge,” he said. “In the last round we nearly fell short, but to get the last minute winner was really good and it was good vibes.
“It’s way more competitive [than academy-level football], they put everything on line, they work for every single ball, so the competitiveness is very strong.
“From when I’m playing in the Under-21s to when I’m playing in the Nathaniel MG Cup, you can just tell the difference.”
After Cardiff Met took a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute, the Bluebirds’ chances of reaching the semi-final appeared slim until Reindorf levelled four minutes from time, before grabbing a last-gasp winner deep into added time.
The teenager says that the 3-2 victory over the Archers is one of the most cherished moments of the early stages of his professional career.
“It was absolute scenes, especially in the changing room, it was absolutely amazing,” he recalls.
“That was the first time I felt really part of something and like this journey is going to be really good – now we’re just pushing into the semi-final and hopefully we can make our way to the final and win it. It was absolutely crazy.
“I feel like there’s moments when it comes to football and getting to the semi-final was probably my best so far.”
Overcoming Aberystywth at Park Avenue to seal a place in the Nathaniel MG Cup final would be another step forward in what is already proving to be a breakout season for Reindorf, who left Norwich City at the end of last season.
“I want to get 15 goals before the end of the year and I want to get more involvement with the first team, hopefully score in the league and keep on pushing to be the best player I can,” he said.
“The lads have been training well, we’ve been doing well and I feel like it’s just time to go and keep on working hard, playing for each other as a team, and get that win on Saturday.”
