Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts believes Cardiff City should follow Wrexham's lead as they prepare to return to the Championship.

Cardiff are heading immediately back to the second tier after clinching second place in League One in their first season at the lower level since 2003.

A string of youngsters – many of them academy products – have played a starring role in Cardiff's promotion success.

But Roberts believesCardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy should take a leaf out of Wrexham opposite number Phil Parkinson's book by looking to recruit proven Championship performers this summer.

Having been promoted from League One last season, Parkinson brought in the likes of Dom Hyam, Callum Doyle, Lewis O'Brien Ben Sheaf, Josh Windass and Kieffer Moore last summer.

"I don't think Cardiff need to go overboard, maybe [bring in] three, four players who have played in the Championship," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"Do what Wrexham did – don't go for youngsters from Premier League clubs who are wet behind the ears and haven't got too much experience of first-team football.

"If you can, try to get tried and tested players, as Phil did last summer."

Roberts believes a striker and a left-back should be among Cardiff's top targets, while he argues the Welsh club should do all they can to keep goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who is on loan from Danish club FC Copenhagen.

"Nathan Trott would be a massive loss," he added.

"He is so good with the ball at his feet and he is a good goalkeeper full stop. If he goes, there's a massive hole to fill."