3/1 To Win
The smile on Krystian Bielik’s face says it all. He’s delighted to be back in the first team set up following a punishing 12 months out on the sidelines owing to his second serious knee injury in as many years.
It’s been a long and winding road back, one which has tested him at points, but he’s back and keen to look forward.
He marked his return to action in spectacular fashion as his bicycle kick in the 96th minute of the recent Sky Bet Championship game against Birmingham City in front of a packed house at Pride Park Stadium nestled into the back of the net to secure a 2-2 draw.
The scenes which followed in the stadium were one of ecstasy as a capacity crowd celebrated a late comeback which earned the Rams a valuable point.
Bielik, instead, held his shoulder in pain. Many worried about his welfare, but the Polish international confirmed on social media a day later the injury wasn’t as bad as first feared.
It was a relief, especially as he is a player who will be crucial to the Rams’ survival bid as they look to overturn a 21-point deduction in the Championship.
That memorable goal, in front of the South Stand, came exactly 365 days after suffering his second ACL injury and is a moment that will live with Bielik for a long time.
“The goal I scored against Birmingham, it was my first game after a 12 month break,” he told RamsTV. “I couldn’t imagine a better way to say hello to everyone and say: ‘look I’m back!’
“We were 2-0 down when I came on and then the fans still stood up and clapped for me, which was crazy, but I’m really thankful.
“I couldn’t celebrate after the goal because I hurt my shoulder. Normally I would be in the stands with the fans - jumping and having fun - but I couldn’t. I’m really thankful that they welcomed me how they did.
“It was a crazy goal and gave us one point which is important; it’s been a while so I’m so happy and glad that I’m back and I can help the team, whether it is 20 or 30 minutes or full game.
“I’m so hungry because it’s been a while so I can’t wait for another game.”
He added: “It felt like a crazy goal because I have never done a bicycle kick like that before. It didn’t feel for me on the pitch that it was that crazy, but then when you look back at it; it looks amazing.
“I had a hundred or so messages saying that they couldn’t stop watching the goal so I can understand that it was one of the best moments.”
On wheeling away in celebration of the goal, Bielik’s right arm felt the full force of his weight which caused a popping sound in his shoulder.
Thankfully, after a scan, the news was good and it wasn’t a dislocation which meant he was in contention to face Huddersfield Town three days later.
He increased his sharpness in the match at the John Smith’s Stadium as he appeared for 45 minutes in a 2-0 defeat against the Terriers.
It’s small steps at the moment for the midfielder, who isn’t taking any risks in his rehabilitation and he’s keen to look forward and not reflect on the injury too much.
“I don’t want to speak about the bad times,” he admitted. “I should have been back a little bit earlier but I had a small setback with my meniscus so I had to go back to the point when I had to go back to the gym, when I was almost with the team after eight or nine months, so that was why it took us so long.
“I took it, I put my head down and just started work again to get my fitness back. I’m still working at it. It is tough not to play for 12 months or to even train with the team, just doing your own stuff with the medical team and fitness coaches.
“It is boring and you see all the same people every day doing the same stuff, but this is the cost that we have to pay for this type of injury.
“That was my second time I have had major injury. It was tough but I’m back so I’m trying to not think about the past and I’m only thinking about the future.”
The midfielder is now determined to help his team-mates as the Rams bid to beat the drop from the second tier.
“I’m so happy that I can be with the team now and I can help them in whatever position that is,” he said.
“My target is to play my best for the team to give everything that I have on the pitch and see where we are at the end.
“I think the lads have done a brilliant job. The atmosphere in the dressing room is spot on, everyone is just behind each other and every game we say we play with no pressure, but we know what we want to achieve.
“We believe that we can achieve it so everyone is just giving everything and the same thing will happen when we play Hull City on Tuesday.
“I hope that the crowd will be behind us like they are every game and the support will be great once again.”
