During the week Nigel loaned in young Polish striker Tomasz Cywka and Rams fans will be happy if he makes even half the impact of our last Polish striker.

First of all I must address the most pressing concern on every Rams fans mind; how do you pronounce his name?

Wikipedia lists the Polish pronunciation as ‘Tomas Tsifka’ (with a silent ‘T’) so with that information you can now begin preparing your match day chants for Saturday (Cywka will lift ya?).

Tomasz is a bit of an unknown quantity after initially arriving at Wigan with much fanfare for being a very talented youngster and seen as a genuine prospect i attack.

But as the script reads so often in these types of stories, injury has hampered his rise to first team football.

The move to Derby is seen as a chance for him to not only get first team football but also show the talent that earned him over 80 caps for Poland at U18 and 19 levels. He also featured for the Polish U21 squad and was in fact the youngest player ever to do so.

Cywka was born in 1988 in Gliwice and rose through the ranks at Polish club Gwarek Zabrze and was a vital member of the winning team that captured the 2006 Polish U19 Championship.

His obvious ability came to the attention of Wigan Athletic and after a short trial was snapped up by the then manager Paul Jewell on a three year deal in June 2006.

He made his first appearance for the Premier League side in September 2006 coming on as a second half substitute in a Carling Cup fixture against Crewe.

In October of 2006, Tomasz made 4 appearances on loan to League one side Oldham Athletic (alongside Teale & Porter), all of them as a substitute. He continued to develop in the Wigan reserves and was regularly listed in their best players and goal scorers.

This good form failed to help him break into the first team as he didn’t make his second appearance for Wigan until their FA Cup match against Tottenham in January 2009, once again as a substitute.

In February 2009 Steve Bruce spoke to the media praising the player and was sure that Cywka was on the verge of breaking into the first team:

"The kid has now got the opportunity to show me that he can be our fourth striker. He's done well in attack playing for the reserves".

"He's got a big chance for the next three months, and it's good for me to be able to give a young player this experience”.

Sadly the following month Cywka suffered a serious injury when he tore his knee ligaments which kept him out of action until earlier this year.

The injury also scuppered talk of a contract extension which had been discussed with Wigan the previous season.

Returning to action with the Latics reserves has found him beginning to find some of that form with some great performcances playing on the left of midfield.

Even recently having been playing on the wing he has still found the back of the net twice this month, in the 5-0 win over Burnley and 4-1 victory against Everton.

He joins the Rams until the end of the season and it seems he has a lot to prove if he is to perhaps earn a contract extension with Wigan or perhaps stake a claim for the Rams to secure his services for the 2010/11 season.

With a perceived lack of depth when it comes to forwards and pace, Cywka will get a chance to prove he still has what it takes to make it in English football.

Nigel Clough spoke to the DET about his latest loan signing:

"We just wanted another option. We couldn't get Tommy Smith as Portsmouth weren't letting him out on loan but with the unreliability of Steve Davies and Kris Commons at the moment, Tomasz gives us another option alongside Rob Hulse and Chris Porter".

"Although he hasn't got experience at Championship level, we're looking at him to see what he's like, maybe for next season".

"He's one of those Kris Commons-type of players. He just drops off the striker, ideally, but can play up front".

A new Commons? (please, please don't break!!)

The next Rasiak? (Spurs stay away!!)

Another player going through the motions?

Over the next 6 games we are likely to find out one way or the other.

All we can do is wish him luck and hope he adds the attacking spark that was snuffed out on that fateful trip to Swansea when our porcelain hero Commons broke once again.

Good luck Tomasz…. we are looking for a hero….. feel free to fill the void!!

Photo: Action Images

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