Kalinić cool amid Hajduk crisis

Regarded as "the future of Croatian football" by national team coach Slaven Bilić, young Nikola Kalinić is enjoying a season to remember despite his club HNK Hajduk Split experiencing their toughest campaign in years.

First call-up
Called up to the Croatia senior squad for the first time for the final UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group E games against F.Y.R. Macedonia and England, the 19-year-old has been a scoring sensation this season having already managed 12 goals from 18 league appearances. Bilić was generous in his praise, saying: "He has deserved a call-up because he is playing great. We all like him."

Initial target
Before the start of the season, Kalinić had set himself the target of 15 league goals but it looks like he will comfortably exceed that total by the end of the campaign. The player himself puts his good form down to a settled life, saying: "I have calmed down a little bit and am living for football. I am also in a happy relationship with my girlfriend Vanja and all of that combined is a perfect base for me to play well."

Loan spells
Spells on loan last season at HNK Šibenik and NK Pula have, in retrospect, helped the player enormously. "Although young players don't want to go on loan, I must admit I really made progress at Šibenik and Pula," said Kalinić. However, what is perhaps more surprising is that he is thriving at Hajduk in the midst of one of the most stressful seasons in the club's history, with his side already 18 points adrift of league leaders NK Dinamo Zagreb.

'The future'
Hajduk's problems are well-publicised in Croatia. The club's chairman Branko Grgić has resigned and was followed out by coach Sergije Krešić, who had previously left a job in Spain to take charge. While results have been inconsistent, however, Kalinic has kept his eye on the ball, showing the sort of composure that prompted Bilić to describe him as: "The future of Croatian football."