Bojan Krkic: Why the Premier League Will Miss Former Barcelona Man This Season

Bojan Krkic's young career has been one of fits and starts.

Established in the famed La Masia, Bojan was the youngest-ever player to appear for Barcelona in La Liga and the Champions League; it was thought his Camp Nou career would be fruitful; but hardly anything is guaranteed in football.

Firmly behind attacking greats like Messi, Thierry Henry and David Villa, Krkic was never able to establish himself as a first-team, starting-XI regular. Despite this, he scored 41 goals in just over 160 appearances in his limited, but trophy-laden role.

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Hoping to gain more playing time, Bojan was sold to AS Roma in 2011. The deal was for an initial £10 million, with an option for the Italian club to finalise the deal after two seasons.

The move did not go as planned for Krkic (spending half of his contract at AC Milan). Roma opted not to make his move permanent, and Barcelona essentially bought Bojan back in the summer of 2013.

Loaned immediately to Ajax, Krkic continued his trophy collecting—earning an Eredivisie winner's medal—but his play did not merit inclusion with either the Dutch champions or his parent club, who currently boast the likes of Messi, Neymar and £75 million-man Luis Suarez.

Beginning high and ending low seems to be a trend for the Spanish forward.

Last summer, he secured a £3 million move to Stoke City, surprising more than a few football observers.

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The Britannia Stadium's 28,000 capacity pales in comparison to the Camp Nou's 80,000, the San Siro's 80,000, the Stadio Olimpico's 70,000 and the Amsterdam Arena's 52,000, but taking a step down in prestige was sagacious.

Rather than flying off the shelf as he did in his youth, Bojan's Premier League beginning was tempered. After a five-month adjustment period, it looked manager Mark Hughes had secured his club a relative steal.

Showing little until mid-November, over Krkic's last 12 matches he scored five goals and assisted once in two competitions. Four of his goals came in the Premier League and each was registered in a Stoke victory of one goal. Beating Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Leicester City by a difference of four, the 24-year-old had played a major part in securing his club 12 points.

His fifth goal came in the FA Cup vs. Rochdale AFC.

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Finding the target in the fourth minute, Krkic's season would only last 28 more minutes. Taken off the pitch after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, according to Telegraph Sport, Krkic will miss the remainder of Stoke's 2014/15 campaign.

Starting to find form, Bojan had the rug pulled from underneath him, as is what seems to happen; his loss will not only impact Hughes and Stoke City supporters, it will be felt by the entire Premier League.

Known in four domestic leagues as an immaculate dribbler and having acute attacking prowess, there are some who will miss the tricks and flare Bojan possesses, but more will be affected by how his absence impacts Stoke City's mentality.

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Hughes has been attempting to revamp a Stoke side well drilled in Tony Pulis' direct football. The progression from brutes to ballerinas being a slow one, Krkic was a key element in how Stoke were trying to break free, but his elimination could make reverting to type simpler.

Long balls to Peter Crouch and the rough-house tactics employed by Ryan Shawcross or Glenn Whelan for example will never disappear—but should become more apparent. Proven effective during Bojan's acclimation period, specifically against Manchester City and Swansea City, Stoke can be fractious and simultaneously earn results.

Bojan's injury delays Hughes' complete free-flowing project another 14 Premier League games; as such, not having a key piece in their attack makes the Potters more likely to commence stealing points and lunch money all the same.

*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.

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