Earlier this week we covered comments from Poland manager Czesław Michniewicz on Jan Bednarek’s situation and how it could impact his place in the national team.
The 26-year-old moved on loan from Southampton to Aston Villa on September 1st and hasn’t played for the club since then.
Last season he was a regular for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side, picking up 34 appearances for Southampton. This season his only appearances have been three for the Saints, and the Polish media asked Michniewicz about his view on the situation.
Whilst the manager conceded the situation was a problem, he explained the defender had performed reasonably well previously when he wasn’t getting much football.
Thursday evening saw the big test as Poland faced the Netherlands at home in the Nations League. They lost that match 2-0, and Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy rated Bednarek’s performance as worthy of just 3/10, the worst on the pitch.
Of course, there’s the belief that a lack of minutes at Aston Villa is the reason.
They explained: ‘Michniewicz wondered if a player who did not play for his club would be able to play from start to finish. Bednarek declared that he was well prepared. It is hard 
to assume what he would have looked like if he had been in match rhythm, but on Thursday he had a lot of problems with positioning, his cooperation with Przemysław Frankowski was very poor. Uncertain, late, the main culprit in the second conceded goal. This is not World Cup form.’
That’s worrying for the player and he’ll hope his move from Southampton to Aston Villa won’t impact his standing at the World Cup.
