Franek : I'll Bide My Time

Glenn Hoddle hailed Polish International striker Tomasz Frankowski as the missing piece of his jigsaw.

But since the arrival of Mick McCarthy, Franek has seen himself slip down the striking pecking oder to the extent that even a place on the bench now eludes him.

Lesser men may, by now be venting their unhappiness about the current situation, and even the manager, but not Frankowski.

With candid honesty, he has spoken of his lack of first team action, and of how he intends to be ready and willing to take his chance should those ahead of him slip up.

'I have a clear message from Mick McCarthy that he is counting on different players.' he told The Post

'At the moment I am not involved but maybe it will change, although I think it will take a long time.

'I still believe in myself, I've been working hard during the pre-season and am in a good shape physically.

'All I can do now is wait for any lapse of form of the other strikers. Of course, if the coach looks on my goal record I'm in a very bad position and that's why I don't play.'

'I think Mick McCarthy is a good coach and I respect him.

'With assistant Ian Evans they are doing a great job but I just wish I could be used more often on the pitch.'

With Jay Bothroyd, Carl Cort, Leon Clarke and now Jemal Johnson ahead of him though, it may be some time before we see Franek in Old Gold and Black again.

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