'A lot of people ask me this' - Cody Drameh on Cardiff City loan, Leeds United and what next

Drameh, who hasn't yet heard from Jesse Marsch, is maintaining contact with his parent club through Mark Jackson, previously the Under 23s head coach at Thorp Arch before a move into the first team set-up.

Jackson struck up a good relationship with the right-back and is acting as the link between the parent club and its player during what can already be deemed a successful loan spell.

Drameh was the man chosen to speak to the media on behalf of the Bluebirds ahead of Saturday's South Wales derby at home to Swansea City and while that game dominated the discussion, his future was always going to be a talking point.

For a 20-year-old with very little media experience he handled the occasion before the occasion well, giving the pressmen an anecdote from an encounter with a Cardiff supporting postal worker who recognised Drameh in the post office.

A grinning Drameh recalled the fan scribbling 'good luck' on his parcel and made reassuring noises about understanding the size and importance of the game against bitter rivals.

It wasn't long, however, before he was facing questions that all successful loanees face, questions that for a young man happy to admit he pushed for a temporary exit from Leeds felt inevitable.

His January departure was not Marcelo Bielsa's wish, yet it happened all the same and with 14 starts from 14 Championship games under his belt Drameh can be satisfied that his decision was vindicated.

"It was to get games and through getting gametime to showcase my talent," he said.

"I'm very grateful to the manager and coaching staff for putting their faith in me and giving me an opportunity to get game time and experience to showcase the best of my ability.

"I was the one who forced it through so obviously there was confidence on my end to go out and play football. There wasn't any type of pressure for me.

"Most of the lads at Cardiff give me a bit of banter if I make a bad pass, they'll be like 'oh he's from the Premier League' but there hasn't been any pressure.

"I don't think it was a gamble because the manager [Steve Morison] reassured me I would be playing.

"In myself I thought I was ready to play so it wasn't really a gamble, it was just whether I could step up to the challenge of the Championship and hopefully I've done that."

Cardiff fans will tell you he has, adapting quickly to the frenetic pace and fiercely competitive nature of England's second tier.

The international break still came as a welcome breather, though.

"It's my first time being in the Championship and games come thick and fast so it was nice to get a little rest," he said.

"I just went back to London to see family and friends.

"This is my first season if you like in a first team setting so going from 23s football, very spaced out, very relaxed, a game once a week, to games three times a week sometimes, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, it's very demanding.

"I've had to adapt but I think the coaching staff have used their experience and helped me out to adapt to the games.

"I'm not going to disrespect Premier League 2 because it's a very good league but I did feel I had outgrown it on a football level.