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James Wesolowski

JAMES Wesolowski has offered a reminder to Athletic’s players that a top-class performance against good opposition can help to transform a whole career.

Last season, Wesolowski’s good friend Matt Smith sprang to life in the FA Cup, netting four goals in three appearances against Liverpool and Everton.

Smith is now enjoying life in the Sky Bet Championship at Leeds United, where he has scored five times already in 2013-14.

“You have seen it with the FA Cup over the years, not just with Matt Smith but with others as well,” said Wesolowski. “This is where they can really come out and show what they are all about and it is where clubs have a proper look at them.

“Play against some of the top teams in the country, do well and you can prove that you are more than capable of playing at a higher level.

“You saw that with Matt. He shone when the most high-profile games came around and he is fulfilling his potential at Leeds now.”

While Smith opted to seek to make progress at a different club, Wesolowski — currently in his third season with Athletic — has stuck around at Boundary Park and feels that he has the chance to be more expressive on the pitch.

“I am enjoying it here,” he added. “Since the gaffer has come in, it has been a different style and I think it has actually helped my game.

“With the old style, though I enjoyed it, this now is probably improving me a little bit.

“Whereas I wasn’t going forward, now the gaffer has given us all the freedom to express ourselves, our true abilities and do what we know we are good at.”
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