Warsaw-bound Milik making his name at Ajax

After scoring in the first leg of AFC Ajax's UEFA Europa League round of 32 tie against Legia Warszawa, Poland forward Arkadiusz Milik hopes this week's return match will not be his last Warsaw assignment this season.

Ajax's top domestic striker this term with nine Eredivisie goals, the 20-year-old has been looking forward to his Legia trip ever since the round of 32 draw in December, when he tweeted that he wished to visit the Polish capital twice with Ajax in 2014/15 – with the UEFA Europa League final scheduled for the National Stadium Warsaw on 27 May. Legia president Bogusław Leśnodorski replied to say he wanted Milik to come just the once.

Milik might have been playing on the other side on Thursday had his career worked out differently. Four years ago, while on the books of lower-league Rozwój Katowice, he went to Legia for a trial, even joining the youth team on a tour to Italy. The youngster was all set to sign, but had a change of heart, opting for Górnik Zabrze instead. "I appreciated Legia's efforts but decided to join Górnik because it looked a quicker route to first-team football."

It proved a good decision. Górnik fans instantly warmed to Milik, not least because he shares a birthday – 28 February – with the club's most celebrated player, Włodzimierz Lubański, who netted a record 48 goals for Poland between 1963 and 1980. Lubański stayed at Górnik for over a decade, whereas – after scoring 11 times in 38 league games – Milik quickly moved on, choosing Bayer 04 Leverkusen in December 2013 despite several other offers.

Milik has been compared to Lewandowski©AFP/Getty Images

First-team football was hard to procure at the BayArena, prompting a loan switch to FC Augsburg last term and a similar arrangement with Ajax this time out. "I have made three big moves in my career," he told UEFA.com in June 2014. "From Górnik Zabrze to Bayer Leverkusen, the loan to Augsburg, and now Ajax. This third one was the easiest decision of all. Ajax have a great reputation for their work with young players and I would like to take advantage."

He has certainly done that, with his Eredivisie haul just one of his eye-catching feats. He notched six goals in a single Dutch Cup match in September, and registered in three consecutive UEFA EURO 2016 Group D appearances with Poland – including once in Poland's first-ever win against neighbours Germany. The return to Warsaw to face Legia is another exciting opportunity for Milik to impress his countrymen, but getting to the final – potentially "a dream come true" – is his ultimate aim.

The new Lubański, or the new Robert Lewandowski according to many commentators, Milik is eager to carve out his own niche. "I have my own name and I don't want to copy anybody," he said. "I am writing my own story." Polish fans keenly await the next chapter.