Michal Helik: Barnsley FC’s thrilling Championship survival convinced me to sign

Wanted by the Reds in the 2019 summer transfer window, the Pole’s former club Cravocia were unwilling to part with him.

Fortunately, for his sake, Barnsley maintained their interest and resurrected the move in this year’s international window, which closed for business on October 5.

This time, the Polish Ekstraklasa outfit were receptive and gave the Oakwell outfit the green light, much to the relief of Helik, who made his debut in the EFL Cup tie at Middlesbrough in mid-September.

The 25-year-old had followed Barnsley’s fortunes from afar after first hearing about their interest.

When Clarke Oduor scored ‘that’ goal to propel the Reds’ to Championship safety on that incredible night at Brentford on July 22, Helik had his own special reason to be pleased.

Helik told The Yorkshire Post: “Barnsley were interested in me in the last (summer) transfer window and I really appreciated that they waited for me because my last club did not let me go.

“They really appreciated that Barnsley wanted me again in the summer and that is why I wanted to join.

“I saw what happened last season which was crazy and really the finish was unbelievable. I was laughing and joking with Clarke Oduor and I said thank you to him for his goal as it meant I could join Barnsley.

“There are not so many (Championship) games on the television (in Poland), but I did see a few games.

“I also spoke with Kamil Grabara, who was playing at Huddersfield, about Barnsley, the club and the league.

“He told me that Barnsley have a really good team and play really good football and that was why I do not have any bad things before starting the journey.

“I have always dreamed about playing in England and it is great for me. I need to show on the field that I deserve to be here.”

Helik has had an eventful time of it in England, having sampled a winning start on his debut at the Riverside Stadium, while being dismissed on his league bow at Reading in his next game just four days later.

Many observers felt that he was unfortunate to receive his marching orders shortly before half-time when former Sheffield Wednesday striker Lucas Joao went down as he ran across Helik while chasing a long ball.

Helik has also seen Gerhard Struber depart the club for New York Red Bulls with Barnsley looking for their fifth head coach in the space of just 32 months.

Off the pitch, Helik, who arrived at Oakwell after seven years in his homeland where he made 137 appearances in spells with Cracovia and Ruch Chorzow, is settling into life in Yorkshire and feels that the English game perfectly suits him.

A defender who is strong at set-plays, enjoys the physical stuff and has a turn of pace, Helik is relishing the challenge of establishing himself.

He has signed a three-year deal with the Reds and says: “My fiancee is here with my dog and I feel very comfortable here. It is a different style of play to Poland, but I like it and I think we have good aggression and intensity in the team. I am a strong player with height and I am also a fast player and I am happy I can challenge with strikers.”

As for his sending off at Reading, he continued: “It is history for me and I am looking to the future and will learn from it. I think it was a little but unlucky, but also my mistake. It happened and I am focused on the next game.”

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James Mitchinson