BBC Radio Leeds journalist Adam Pope named Pawel Cibicki as his man of the match in Leeds United’s 1-0 Championship win against Norwich City on Saturday.
Cibicki was given the nod to start for the home side in a wide forward role even though Pablo Hernandez was pronounced fit after missing the win at QPR last weekend with a hamstring injury.
The summer signing from Malmo justified his selection by setting up the only goal of the game with a free-kick from out wide that was glanced in at the near post by centre-back Pontus Jansson, his second goal in consecutive Elland Road fixtures.
Pope was impressed by Cibicki, 23, on what was only his second league appearance and his first start in the competition.
Asked who was his man of the match, the journalist told BBC Radio Leeds in his post-match summary: “If I had to give it to anyone, it would be Pawel Cibicki. With his inventiveness, he has given Leeds a new dimension.”
OPINION
There was talk just over a week ago that Leeds were set to grant Cibicki a temporary exit in the January window after his absence from the matchday squad for over two months despite being fit and available for selection. But the summer signing from Malmo has ignited his Elland Road career with his first two league appearances, impressing first as a substitute against QPR last weekend and then in today’s triumph against Norwich. What stood out was Cibicki’s confidence and efficiency with the ball at his feet. His dead-ball delivery was outstanding and means there no longer needs to be an over-reliance on Pablo Hernandez.