James Wesolowski

Football player infobox
playername = James Wesolowski


fullname = James Peter Wesolowski
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|8|25
cityofbirth = Sydney
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|meter=1.72
currentclub = Cheltenham Town
on loan from Leicester City
clubnumber = 34
position = Midfielder
youthyears = -2002
2002-2004
youthclubs = Northern Spirit
Leicester City
years = 2004–
2008–2009
clubs = Leicester City
→Cheltenham Town (loan)
caps(goals) = 46 (0)
01 (0)
nationalyears = 2004–2007
nationalteam = Australia U20
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 15:38, 2 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 18:53, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

James Peter Wesolowski (born 25 August 1987 in Sydney) is an Australian football player currently playing as a midfielder for Cheltenham Town on loan from Leicester City.

Leicester City

Wesolowski played for Australian side Northern Spirit before signing for Leicester City in 2002. After showing a lot of potential in the reserves, James played for Leicester in a pre-season friendly against Celtic in 2005, but suffered a broken leg due to a challenge from Bobo Balde. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/4712527.stm Wesolowski receives Balde apology] BBC Sport 2005-07-24] He underwent surgery on the leg but the injury sidelined him until the start of 2006. Wesolowski returned and impressed for the Leicester first team, making his debut at home to Cardiff City in January 2006. However, after only five appearances, he broke his same leg against Brighton in a freak incident. He recovered in time for the start of the 2006–07 season, although a thigh injury kept him out of the side for the first month.

The departure of Joey Gudjónsson gave Wesolowski the opportunity to become a first team regular at Leicester, although he still faced stiff competition from then-teammates Stephen Hughes and Andy Johnson for the central midfield spot. He scored his first senior goal against Fulham in the FA Cup 3rd round replay on 17 January 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/6258849.stm Fulham 4-3 Leicester] BBC Sport 2007-01-17] Wesolowski played a total of 19 league games, helping Leicester survive relegation at the end of the 2006/07 season.

In July 2007, during the 2007/08 pre-season, Wesolowski agreed to a contract extension with Leicester that would see him remain at the Walkers Stadium until 2011. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6265040.stm Wesolowski signs Leicester deal] BBC Sport 2007-07-03] Wesolowski scored his second goal of his career against Accrington in a Carling Cup match on August 14. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/6941798.stm Accrington 0-1 Leicester] BBC Sport 2007-08-14] He suffered a hamstring injury on September 18 in a 3–2 win over Nottingham Forest and was taken off after 19 minutes, sidelining him for six weeks. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7004821.stm Wesolowski injury rocks Leicester] , BBC Sport 2007-09-20. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.] Wesolowski started to have more hamstring problems since recovering, and he was injured again on December 8 in the fifth minute as Leicester lost 2–1 to West Bromwich Albion, sidelining him until Christmas. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7136633.stm Wesolowski out until Christmas] , BBC Sport 2007-12-10. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.] Despite accumulating a total of 22 league appearances, Wesolowski could not prevent the 2008 season from ending in relegation.

On October 2, 2008, James joined Cheltenham Town, linking up with former Leicester manager Martin Allen and fellow Leicester loanee Barry Hayles, on a 3 month loan deal but can be recalled after the 1st month.cite news|title=Allen adds pair to Robins squad| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/7649715.stm| publisher=BBC Sport| date=2008-10-02|accessdate=2008-10-02]

International

Wesolowski received international acclaim at the end of the 2004/2005 season after competing for Australia in the FIFA World Youth Championship and was labelled "a star in the making" by the Australian Football Federation. James was called up to the Australian national team on his 19th birthday for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait, but was withdrawn from the squad days later after consultation with medical staff from both parties 'on precautionary grounds'. On November 06, 2007, he was called up to the national team for a friendly match against Nigeria on 17 November, [ [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/Socceroos/default.aspx?s=aus_soc_news_feat_news_news_item&id=20087 Qantas Socceroos Squad to Play Nigeria Named] , Football Australia 2007-11-06.] but was an unused substitute as Australia won 1–0.

tatistics

References

External links

* [http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10274~34013,00.html James Wesolowski's Profile at Leicester City Official Site]
*soccerbase|id=43105|name=James Wesolowski
* [http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=99622 'Just who is Wesolowski?' Article from 'SBS' The World Game' Site, 12/11/2007]
* [http://westfieldsports.nsw.edu.au/SPORTS/soccerpg114.html 'Wesolowski slowly rising' Article from 'Westfields Sports High School' Site, 10/07/2007]