Blues central defender Piotr Malarczyk says he has no regrets about joining Town last summer and didn’t move to England to give up after only six months.

Former Polish U21 international Malarczyk was signed from his hometown club Korona Kielce, where he was skipper, in August, when the Blues triggered a release clause of 50,000 zloty (around £8,500) in his contract.

But since then the 24-year-old, who was close to winning a senior international call-up in September, has made only three starts - all in the cups - and three Championship sub appearances.

His last game was the FA Cup replay defeat at Portsmouth in which he was sent off having picked up two yellow cards having conceded a penalty (pictured above).

Having recently spent three weeks out of action due to a kidney stone, Malarczyk has been out of the first-team squad and was the only senior player in the U21s side which lost 1-0 at Cardiff yesterday.

Despite his lack of opportunities up to now the centre-half says he has no regrets.

“I would make exactly the same decision now or in year's time,” he told SportoweFakty.pl.

“I just wanted to give it a try at a foreign club and had always made it clear that I was working hard so I can eventually move abroad.

However, he admits he’s disappointed with his lack of opportunities: “I obviously can't say I am happy with this situation, simply because I am not playing enough.

“But if you look, for example, at Dusan Kuciak [arguably the best goalkeeper in the Polish Ekstraklasa in recent seasons] who moved from Legia to Hull City and he's not even on the bench.

Why does he feel he’s not been given his chance? “It's hard to tell. Bartek Bialkowski, for example, lost his place not because of a lack of form but because of personal matters.

“And even though he looked great in training he had to wait until the then-first choice keeper picked up an injury.

“I'm in an even worse situation as central defenders don't get replaced until they make some serious mistakes.”

But he says he’s prepared to work hard and wait for his chance and has no plans to return to Poland.

“I didn't move to England to give up after six months,” he insisted. “The Championship is a very difficult league, the style of football is completely different to the one in Poland.

“I would like to stay in England. I am not going to moan about the lack of playing time.

“It's a shame that the last few months have not looked good but I have two options: complain that the manager’s not giving me enough chances or train very hard and show him that I am always ready to play. I am choosing the latter.”

Thanks to Jerry for the translation.

Photo: Action Images

hoppy added 15:52 - Mar 15 As said on a thread yesterday, he may not have covered himself in glory in the games against Portsmouth, but then none of them did, and was always going to be difficult playing alongside equally inexperienced youngsters/squad members - a scenario that wouldn't be the case in the league. When he came on as a half time sub for his debut against Brighton, I thought he did pretty well that day. I certainly wouldn't give up on him after 6 months either. The improvement shown in Knudsen in recent weeks shows that sometimes it takes a while to settle in and show what you're made of. Good luck to the lad, and hopefully we'll discover a decent defender there if he sticks at it and improves himself.

18

BLUEBEAT added 15:56 - Mar 15 good lad
7

Solly added 16:15 - Mar 15 I think we all forget his performance at Old Trafford too. He led the defence magnificently that night and yes, we lost, but he got his head on all sorts and was playing next to Yorwerth. I think there's a player in there and as soon as we are 100% out of the play-off race, get him in the team. And, one last thing: they are very dignified quotes. Hats off.
13

nysully added 16:24 - Mar 15 Most important item in the interview was about Bart - "And even though he looked great in training he had to wait until the then-first choice keeper picked up an injury." once you have curried MM favour it takes a life changing incident to lose your place. There is little competition for places on this team, once you get in you stay in until you cant walk, too many places in the team not decided on merit.

4

Swailsey added 16:44 - Mar 15 Subtle dig at Oar there do you think?
0

RobTheMonk added 16:46 - Mar 15 I agree, Bluebeat. Good attitude to not playing. Would love to see him come good!
5

Seasider added 16:50 - Mar 15 Quite agree nysully.Several players have passed through the club since McCarthy's has been here,without being given time in the first team,whilst others like Knudsen have. I too think he shows the right attitude,and has potential;but will it be enough to displace his favorites at the back.Chambers I think has been our worst player in defence this season,and I recall the bench were trying to get him off on one occasion,and he ignored them.If he wasn't Micks favourite and Captain,might even have been disciplined.Other players must notice this;but hopes he sticks with it

3

kuyski added 16:57 - Mar 15 If him's parters is Berra or Smith，I think he can do more better than before， not fare for him with no chance to prove himself with senior parter.
2

BlueKush added 17:40 - Mar 15 That's the spirit Pete! Needs to match Berra and Smith's aerial dominance.
1

Mark added 18:19 - Mar 15 Being the captain of a Polish top league club I thought he would have impressed more, although I just read Korona Kielce's attendances are around 6,500 so I guess it is a big step up for him. With Berra and Smith (thankfully) staying injury and suspension free, that has limited Malarczyk's chances. He looked poor when I saw him, but after a little run in the first team perhaps he would show what he can do. I wonder if he will get the chance or perhaps he will be released in the summer, we will see.

1

essexboy added 18:38 - Mar 15 He needs to be given a chance.If he is good enough to be considered for the national team then he cann't be that bad,can he.!!.
1

Len_Brennan added 18:47 - Mar 15 I agree with the comments above. I thought & hoped that he would be a decent signing for us and he think still deserves a chance to prove himself. The sending off and the kidney stone have not helped his cause, but the main difficulty he has had is “I'm in an even worse situation as central defenders don't get replaced until they make some serious mistakes.”. Now that's a very interesting quote. Central defenders in general, or ours in particular? I think all 3 of our first team centre halves - including Chambers for that's what he is - have had really poor spells this season and could easily have been dropped/rested. While Berra has been a great signing for us & arguably one of the best centre halves in the Championship over the last 3 years, he's had a few uncharacteristic shockers this season, especially early on. But the 3 lads have kept their places all season long, and those are the 3 spots that Malarczyk would be competing for. When he did get a start I thought he did ok against Man Utd & like Solly thought there was a player in there, whereas against Portsmouth Mick changed the whole backline so I think it's unfair to judge purely on that match as part of an inexperienced unit. I really thought Berra or Smith would have started alongside him and at least one of the usual full backs also for a bit of solidity & structure. The result however was carnage for him & the team. Maybe it's not to be for him, maybe he's not putting in the work behind the scenes and Mick isn't happy with him, I don't know, but I am surprised he hasn't been given a better chance than he has so far, even as a right back which is a more natural position for him than it was was Chambers.

1

jas0999 added 19:11 - Mar 15 Good attitude which is refreshing, but based on his Pompey performances, he really doesn't look good enough.bottom line is this was a £8K punt, which hasn't worked out ... Yet.
0

Eireannach_gorm added 19:59 - Mar 15 If you are basing your assessment on his ability on the Portsmouth game how do explain the fact that Digby has been in every Town squad since.
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls