OPINION
Leeds United are making a big mistake by sticking to their guns over Pawel Cibicki.
The Swedish forward could still make a major impact in his second season at Elland Road and has demonstrated that with his performances while on a half-season loan to Norwegian side Molde.
But the United hierarchy don’t appear to have been too impressed, judged by the latest update on Cibicki from Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay.
In a Twitter exchange with a Leeds fan on Monday about the club’s loaned-out players, Hay explained that the 24-year-old is “surplus” to requirements at the club and is not expecting him to return to the first-team squad.
they’re keeping an open mind about Grot. Ekuban too to an extent, although I’m not sure I see it working out for either of them. The likes of Sacko/Cibicki – as far as I was aware in the summer, they were surplus
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 26, 2018
That would be a major error from the Elland Road.
Freezing Cibicki out when he returns in the new year doesn’t make any sense, when he could be a real asset to a squad that has only one consistently effective wide player in Pablo Hernandez.
The Swedish winger has been a regular for Molde this season, scoring three goals, including two in their last three matches, as well as supplying five assists.
While the Norwegian league is not as demanding as the English Championship, it is a high enough standard to suggest Cibicki should not be offloaded in January, either permanently or on loan.
Still only 24, he is young enough and good enough to overturn assumptions he is too frail for the division.
The reality was that he was given little chance to prove himself at Leeds in his debut campaign other than an extended run under Thomas Christiansen either side of Christmas in which he actually showed some good signs.
The United hierarchy should have a re-think over the talented Cibicki.