SAIDY JANKO could have stayed one more year at Old Trafford, picked up what presumably was a decent wage and trained with some of the best around with no real pressure put upon him.

 

Plenty of other far higher-profile "stars" than the Swiss have done this over the years; however, the 19-year-old did not want to be known as one of those players "afraid" to leave Manchester United, and so he jumped at the chance to join Celtic and test himself in the Champions League.

Fresh from completing a medical and signing his four-year contract, for a fee close to the £700,000 David Moyes paid FC Zurich for him two years, ago after he impressed the Scot in a pre-season game, Janko stressed that he was in Glasgow for one thing only: to play regularly for Ronny Deila.

This is not someone content just to pick up a wage without having to really work for it.

"I want to play football," said Janko with some determination. "Manchester United is a great club but a lot of players are afraid to leave because it's Man United. I just wanted to play and to make the fans happy with my football, and if I could play in the Champions League then that would be great. That is the main reason I am here.

"I'm happy to show myself in training. When I spoke to the manager he told me to give everything every day and I will get there."

So who is Saidy Janko? He is primarily a right-back, but can play in a number of positions, and was one of only three players bought by Moyes during his brief spell in charge at Old Trafford.

Indeed, he was the first to be signed after catching the eye of the now manager of Real Sociedad, who Celtic play next Friday, after a performance that changed his life forever.

"At first I couldn't believe it. We played against United in the Blue Stars tournament and I did well," said Janko. "Then they come up to me two weeks later with an invitation letter and I couldn't say no.

"After that I had a really good first two years. In the first year I got reserve player of the year and I was happy with that. Then in the second season I went to Bolton and that was a great experience to play first-team football in the Championship, which is a good league, and work for a good coach like Neil Lennon.

"I was a bit sad when Moyes left but I said, 'new manager, new goals: I will try to impress him'. So it didn't really matter Louis van Gaal didn't really speak to me - it was more Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt.

"I didn't think I wouldn't get a chance at Manchester United I just wanted a new challenge. I think Celtic is the perfect club for me at this stage of my career to develop. Hopefully I can have many good years here."

Janko played just once for United. It's fair to say his 45 minutes in a 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the League Cup won't be too high up on his cv. However, his two years at the self-styled biggest club in the word did him a lot of good, given who he could talk to on a daily basis.

"It is special to get advice from Ryan Giggs," he said. "We are different players. He knew I was not the same as him so he told me what I should do. He was very good. He always spoke with the young players when we first got involved.

"It was the same with Nicky Butt. Those two were great guys. You could see when they trained with us that they still have it. Top class.

"Darren Fletcher was very good with the young players. I didn't speak to him about this move but we always had a laugh with him. If he saw I didn't do something right he would always try to coach me, tried to help me, and I appreciated that.

"He was one of those guys who when anyone had a problem, they would go to Fletch. He was there for you. He is an inspiration, even more now when you think about what he has been through. You have to respect the man."

Janko spent a couple of months with Lennon at Bolton where he scored a spectacular goal on his debut from right-back. A feat he said he would try to replicate, although there was no promise attached to that.

Mikael Lustig and Adam Matthews are already at the club. Both are right-backs and both have done well at Celtic so it will take something special even to oust one, let alone two fine players.

"I can rise to the challenge," Janko claimed. "There is competition everywhere and with competition you push your team-mates and everyone gets better. I can play other positions. I played more as a winger than a right back in the last two seasons and I have played on the left as well - left back or left winger."

Janko had other options but as other players have found, once he spoke to Deila in person, it is extremely difficult to say no to the man.

"I think it was quite clear when I met the manager at Celtic that I wanted to come here," he said. "The manager made it clear what he expects from me and when I saw the ground I wanted to sign. I was sure about things right from the beginning."