Image via Mikolaj Barbanell/Shutterstock
After the Polish squad was announced on Friday lunchtime, many pundits and fans felt confident in the squad that Fernando Santos had assembled. It felt like something of a fresh start, in no small part to the omission of Grzegorz Krychowiak and the enforced absence of Kamil Glik allowing for Kamil Piątkowski to return to the squad for the first time in two years.
Many were also heartened by the return to form Jan Bednarek has had, regularly featuring for Southampton and helping their fight against relegation. Unfortunately, he was withdrawn during the Saints’ 3-3 draw against Spurs with a suspected rib injury, and the day after Piątkowski was thought to have suffered a knock playing for Gent against Eupen.
It has since been announced this afternoon that experienced Lech Poznań defender Bartosz Salamon has been called-up to provide cover given Bednarek and Piątkowski will likely now miss the games against Czechia and Albania, with the latter definitely ruled out of the international break.
Salamon last played for Poland in a friendly against Scotland almost exactly one year ago, and is relatively experienced with ten appearances for the national team since 2013.
Whether or not Santos elects to start Salamon in either of these games, it’s yet another Ekstraklasa player that the new Selekcjoner has seen fit to call up, although this hasn’t been without question. A number of fans think more deserving candidates would’ve been Mateusz Wieteska or Maik Nawrocki.
In my opinion, the fact Santos has overlooked Wieteska and Nawrocki in favour of Salamon is understandable. I personally would’ve chosen Wieteska instead but Salamon has more experience and good a young player as Nawrocki is, Santos has already chosen a number of young players for this squad.
To me, this smacks of an understandable balance in that the defence Santos is likely to employ will have Jakub Kiwior as one of the centre backs, and you imagine it would be more beneficial for the moment from Kiwior to be partnered with a more experienced colleague.
Salamon is 31 now, so his national team career is almost certainly winding down, but it doesn’t mean he can’t be of use in these upcoming qualifiers.
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