SAY HELLO TO THE BIG TIME
BARNSLEY defender Michal Helik could be facing some of the stars of the Premier League sooner than he imagined.
The 25-year-old is one of the main reasons the Yorkshire club are a contender for an end of season shot at the Premier League through the promotion play-offs.
And his form under Oakwell boss Valerien Ismael has attracted the attention of Poland manager Paulo Sousa who has called him up for the first time to his squad for the England game at Wembley on Wednesday.
So instead of having to wait until August if the Tykes win promotion to test himself against Harry Kane and company, Helik signed from Polish side Cracovia at the beginning of the season, is poised for an unexpected opportunity in midweek.
“It’s a big honour for me. I’ve dreamt about playing for Poland all my life,” he said. “I never played for any of the international junior teams but I’ve never given up hoping that this day would eventually arrive.
“If I end up playing against England it will be something extra special. And being at Wembley it’s even more than I could ever have imagined.
“My family are very proud. I love that feeling when I know they are happy that I have made it into the international squad.”
At 6ft 3in and with an eye for goal – he has scored six as a central defender – Helik says he owes his impressive run of form to Oakwell boss Ismael. Having been signed by previous boss Gerhard Struber just a few weeks before he left to join New York Red
Bulls, Helik was apprehensive about the change.
But he soon learned Ismael had, as a player, won the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.
“If you know the coach has played for the biggest clubs in the world you have respect for him, Helik said. “The mentality he has is unbelievable. He has taught us that and we’ve learnt from him with his mentality.
“As a defender himself he can pass on that experience and I think I have improved as a player and as a person.” He believes it will help him adapt to the extra pressures of international life and training alongside household names like Bayern’s striker Robert Lewandowski (above).
“I could never have imagined this just a few months ago,” he stated. “But this has given me extra confidence. It also entails extra responsibility because you are now representing your country.
“I also need to keep giving the best I can for Barnsley. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure I keep performing well.
“The league table is only important at the end of the season. Of course it’s better to be in the top half and not to be playing with the pressure of relegation but we are hungry for more.”