FORMER Cardiff City defender Sol Bamba is currently training with Middlesbrough after being released by the Bluebirds. 

The 36-year-old received treatment for cancer earlier this year and his former manager Neil Warnock has offered the centre-back the chance to build his fitness in what's been described as a 'warm hand of friendship'.

Bamba spent just under five years with Cardiff City making over 100 league appearances. He was a heavy feature of the side under Warnock as he played in every Championship game in the Bluebirds promotion winning season.

In May, Bamba received the great news that he was cancer free after receiving chemotherpay for treatment for Non-hodgkin lymphoma in January. 

At the time, Bamba tweeted: "Hey everyone, just a quick message to inform you that I'm now cancer free!

"It is of course an incredibly heartwarming news for my family and I, we are over the moon right now. I really want to thank each and everyone that has been supporting me, whether it's been with a comment, a message, a like or whatever, that definitely gave me extra strength to go through this.

"Above all, I want to thank the family at the NHS who took such good care of me, I will always be grateful for your job.

"Thank you to all my family, my friends and of course the club and everyone one in the football industry that has helped me facing this challenge. I wish you all a blessed day and hopefully will see you soon again on the pitch. Sol.”

Warnock told the club website: "Sol telephoned me to say he’d moved back to Leeds since his release from Cardiff and asked if I'd help him."

"I’ve known him years, he’s a good lad, and after everything he’s been through this is the least I can do. We wish him well.

"No doubt he’ll get as fit as he can with a week or so under his belt with us."