Leeds United's Mateusz Klich and teammates on the pitch
Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Joe Donnohue has been reacting to an off-field update involving Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich.
The Lowdown: Lack of minutes
Klich has fallen down the pecking order under Jesse Marsch this season and is yet to make a Premier League start. He netted twice in a Carabao Cup win over Barnsley, after which Danny Mills labelled the 32-year-old ‘different class’, but has featured in only 188 minutes of league action.
The Poland international was linked with a move away in the summer but remained in Yorkshire, looking to make the cut for the World Cup in Qatar.
The Latest: World Cup absence
Poland confirmed their World Cup squad on Thursday afternoon, with Klich unfortunately not making the cut.
Donnohue took to Twitter to react to the news, describing it as a ‘bitter blow’ for the midfielder as he shared a corresponding article for Yorkshire Evening Post.
The reporter tweeted: “Bitter blow for Mateusz Klich to miss out on the World Cup. No guarantee he’ll be in a position to make the squad in four years, depending on whether Poland qualify at all. Jesse Marsch felt his reduced role would still be sufficient for a call-up.”
The Verdict: Gutted
Klich put side before self at Elland Road by remaining in Yorkshire, providing Marsch with an experienced option from the bench.
However, his lack of game-time this season appears to have played a part in his exclusion from Poland’s squad.
Everyone associated with the club will be gutted for Klich, who – as Donnohue mentions – may not be in a position to line out for his country at the 2026 World Cup (that’s if they qualify), by which time he will be 36.
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