Whereas Bulut did not see Rinomhota as a part of his plans, Riza demonstrated his faith in the player as soon as he took the reins, initially as interim manager, by restoring him to the matchday squad for his first game in charge last September.

After featuring as a substitute midfielder as Cardiff picked up their first wins of the season in the autumn, Rinomhota’s breakthrough moment came in November’s 2-1 victory over Norwich when he made his first league start for the Bluebirds since January 2024 – and in unfamiliar territory at right-back.

“This is the longest run I’ve had in the position. I’ve had odd games here and there, maybe just filling in for players,” Rinomhota says.

“That’s how this one started, filling in for Perry, and I’ve taken to it. At the start it felt a bit unfamiliar but I’ve adapted to it well. I’m happy to be playing no matter what position it is.”

Rinomhota’s transition has been impressively smooth, applying many of the attributes he honed as a midfielder to his new role.

He is comfortable in possession and helps Cardiff build play from the back, while his athleticism allows him to make surging runs forward as well as cover defensively.

It is a move others have made at the highest echelons of the game. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold played much of his youth football in midfield before establishing himself at right-back, though he has also played for England as a midfielder. Others, such as Bayern Munich and Germany great Philipp Lahm, enjoyed success by switching from full-back to midfield.

Rinomhota laughs modestly at the mention of those stellar talents, but he offers an interesting insight into the technical similarities and differences between the two positions.

“Going from midfield to right-back, in midfield you always have to be checking your shoulder because everything can be happening all around you, whereas at right-back almost everything is in front of you,” says Rinomhota.

“So it’s a little bit easier in that sense, then the awareness you’ve already got from midfield helps. You know what to expect from all other areas because midfielders cover a lot, so I think that has helped.

“And being a more defensive midfielder, those defensive capabilities have shone through. I have better games against better teams with better wingers because that’s when I have to be up against them in one-v-ones, so that’s more when I actually stand out.”