Bart aims to show his class (From This is Hampshire)

Bart aims to show his class

6:10am Saturday 28th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)

By Simon Walter »

THE last time Bartosz Bialkowski played in the FA Cup, he suffered a serious knee injury at Premiership Newcastle, which brought to a halt an impressive start to his Saints career.

Nearly four years later, the Polish goalkeeper is putting the memory of being stretchered off at St James’s Park behind him as he prepares to replace the injured Kelvin Davis for today’s second-round tie at Northampton Town.

Most Saints fans remember Bialkowski’s last FA Cup appearance for Dexter Blackstock’s performance as his replacement in the televised 1-0 defeat in February 2006.

But Bialkowski, who had made a big impression in his six weeks at St Mary’s before falling awkwardly in the fifth-round tie, refuses to dwell on that day.

“I don’t think about that moment, because it was a bad moment for me,” he says. “I was just 18 and was playing really, really well and then it happened.

“But bad injuries happen so now I’m concentrating on every single game.

“It’s been a long time now so the knee is fine, I’m fit and am ready to play.”

Bialkowski played two games on loan at Barnsley earlier this season but has not started a league match for Saints since the 4-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on the opening day of the 2007-08 season.

“It’s been a long time since I played for Southampton FC, I played a couple of weeks ago against Charlton in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy but that’s not the same,” he continued.

“This is a big game for me and I’m excited to show the gaffer how good I am."

Full story in today's Daily Echo.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)