CARDIFF City boss Neil Warnock has criticised Newport County AFC manager Graham Westley over his treatment of on-loan striker Rhys Healey.

Healey revealed yesterday that Plymouth had contacted him over a potential loan move to Home Park when his spell at Rodney Parade comes to an end in January.

It is understood the Pilgrims made the approach just a few days before the sides met in the FA Cup second round last Saturday – they will meet again in a replay on December 21 after drawing 0-0.

Speaking at Cardiff’s press conference ahead of their trip to Ipswich in the Championship tomorrow, Warnock said: “I disagree totally with what’s happened and I’m very, very annoyed with Graham at the moment if I’m honest.

“To ask a young lad to face the media and talk about Plymouth I think is totally out of order and I’ll be speaking to Rhys on Sunday.

“I don’t think he should have been placed in front of the media with the first question asking him whether he was going to Plymouth Argyle, he should be talking about Newport and it was totally unfair.

“Plymouth have spoken to me as have a number of clubs, but the club has not spoken to Rhys – that’s been made up.

“He knew of the interest but he didn’t speak to them. His agent has spoken to clubs, which is normal for a young player out on loan.

“I’d told Newport many weeks ago we have to do what’s right for the lad.

“We have to weigh up the pros and cons of whether we want the lad playing at a team at that end of the table or another challenge, either in another division – because a number of League One clubs have asked – or whether we want him to go to the other end of the League Two table, like Carlisle where Keith Curle has asked me, or Plymouth.”

Healey, who turned 22 on Tuesday, has scored six goals in 18 games while with League Two basement boys Newport, who host Morecambe tomorrow.

“I expect him to play until January – if he gets selected, which might not happen this weekend,” added Warnock. “It’ll be disappointing for him but that’s up to their manager.

“I’ve no idea if Rhys will move. Last time I spoke to Graham, if I thought it was beneficial to let him stay I would have let him stay.

“But the current situation is not helping. I believe you should talk manager to manager about things, not through the papers.

“I have no intention of selling him. We’ve got three other young lads from the Under-23s Newport want a look at and by all means, I don’t mind helping them out, but that’s another matter.”