Underestimate Swansea at your peril was the message from on loan Birmingham City goalkeeper Artur Krysiak ahead of tomorrow nights match at the Liberty Stadium.
Disappointingly the 19 year old Pole will play no part in what has all the hallmarks of being a thrilling encounter between two of the best footballing sides in the second tier of British football. Due to hisย ineligibility to play against his parent club he will sit out tomorrow night’s fixture.
Joining on loan from the Midlands club, Krysiak has made his championship dรฉbut under the tutelage of Swansea manager Roberto Martinez but has admitted that he thought the championship new boys would struggle but has changed his view of the clubs abilities as he told the Birmingham post, โSwansea are a very good side, you have to respect them. Before I joined them, I thought they were perhaps a little bit young to be able to play against the difficult teams like Birmingham and Wolves. After Cardiff City I changed my mind.โ
โTheyโve impressed me and done very well the last few weeks. I think in the next few years, they could easily be challenging to get into the Premier League, and might get there. They attack with speed and are very technical, they have players from Spain as you would expect being managed by Roberto Matinez, and I expect Birmingham will be given a tough game.Itโs a game where Birmingham must get the result, but it will be hard. Swansea will be looking forward to it and as for who will win, what can I say? My friends are in the Swansea team, my friends are in the Birmingham team!โ
Critical of his own abilities the shot-stopper who started his career with his home town club UKS SMS Lรณdz has no regrets about moving to South Wales on loan, he said โWhen Swansea came in, it was perfect. I need more games, more experience.โ Looking ahead to where he sees his future the young keeper is now aiming for the very top, as he now outlines โI am not quite yet ready to play for Birmingham or a Premier League team. You always want to better yourself and improve your skills and I still have a lot to learn.โ
Whilst Dorus De Vries could make a shock return after he underwent surgery to correct a jaw and cheekbone fractures, on loan Greek keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos is odds on favourites to take his place between the sticks.