James Wesolowski

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James Wesolowski
Personal information
Full name	James Wesolowski
Date of birth	August 25, 1987 (age 19)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Nickname	Weso
Playing position	Centre Midfield
Club information
Current club	Leicester City
Youth clubs
	Northern Spirit FC
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2004 -	Leicester City	11 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 9, 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

James Peter Wesolowski (born 25 August 1987) is an Australian professional football (soccer) player. He currently plays for Leicester City in central midfield.

Wesolowski played for Australian side Northern Spirit FC before signing for the foxes in 2002. After showing a lot of potential in their reserves team, James played for Leicester in a pre-season friendly against Celtic in 2004, but broke a leg in that game, due to a challenge from Bobo Balde. Then City manager Craig Levein called Balde's tackle "disgraceful, disgusting and malicious" but the Guinea international stressed his intention to meet the Australian and apologize in person, although the following season Bobo Balde broke his own leg after his leg suddenly 'snapped'.

Wesolowski returned and impressed for the Leicester first team, making his debut at home to Cardiff City in January 2005. However, after only five appearances, he broke his same leg against Brighton in a freak incident.

'Jimbo' received international acclaim at the end of the 2004/2005 season after competing for Australia in the FIFA World Youth Championships and was labelled "a star in the making" by the Australian Football Federation.

In July 2006, James signed a 1 year extension to his contract which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2007/2008 season. Wesolowski recovered from his broken leg in time for the start 2006/2007 season, although a thigh injury kept him out of the side for the first month.

With the departure of midfield playmaker Joey Gudjonsson to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, it has opened the door for the tough-tackling Wesolowski to become a first team regular at Leicester, although he faces stiff competition from Stephen Hughes and Andy Johnson for the central midfield spot. Despite the disappointing quality of Leicester's midfielders in 2007, Wesolowski has struggled to break into the first team. He did play against Aston Villa in the FA Cup immediately after recovering from injury and impressed with his tenacity and will to do well for his team. He is a fans' favourite because of these qualities (and also for cricking Andy Johnson's neck during a training session.)

James was called up to the Australian national first team on his 19th birthday for a Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait, but was withdrawn from the squad days later after consultation with medical staff from both parties on 'on precautionary grounds'. Leicester manager Rob Kelly maintains that Wesolowski will get his chance in the Australia first team again in the future.

He scored his first senior goal for City in their 4-3 defeat to Fulham in an FA Cup 3rd round replay.

Leicester City F.C. - Current Squad
1 Douglas | 2 Maybury | 3 Kisnorbo | 4 Kenton | 5 McCarthy | 6 Hughes | 7 Hume | 8 Yeates | 9 Horsfield | 10 Johnson | 11 Tiatto | 12 Fryatt | 13 Henderson | 14 McAuley | 15 Johansson | 16 Newton | 17 Stearman | 18 Hammond | 20 Wesolowski | 21 Sheehan | 23 Jarrett | 25 Logan | 27 Porter | 28 Gradel | 29 Lycett | 33 Odhiambo | Manager: Kelly