Come and get me!

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 23 October 2014


TOMASZ Kuszczak is determined to do everything in his power to be ready for first-team action again.

The experienced former West Brom and Manchester United goalkeeper has been training with Athletic’s squad at SportsDirect.com Park for the past two months at the invitation of manager Lee Johnson.

The idea was that having aboard the out-of-contract 32 year old — a play-off semi-finalist with Championship side Brighton for the last two seasons — would prove mutually beneficial.

On the one hand, the locally-based Polish player would maintain his fitness for an approach from a higher division. And from Johnson’s point of view, the arrangement allows Athletic’s own shot-stoppers Paul Rachubka and Joel Coleman to tap into his wealth of experience.

Well known around the club for his outgoing, positive approach, Kuszczak believes that his current club-less status is a temporary one. He hopes to land a spot in either a Championship or Premier League side.

“It is a new situation for me and I have never been in a position like this before,” Kuszczak told the Chronicle. “But I know I have to be prepared. I am training every day and waiting for the chance, as when it comes I will be ready to step into a team and perform. It is a question of where and when.

“I really appreciate the opportunity to be here and train. Lee Johnson gave me the chance to come and train without any obligations, which I appreciate.

“He’s a superb young manager with big ambitions and the way he prepares the team for matches is very impressive.”