The winger is keen to stamp his authority on the team between now and the end of the season.
Reds loanee Saidy Janko believes what the Reds have already achieved this season is huge, but insisted they are not prepared to slow down heading into the final seven games.
The versatile right-sided player made his full Barnsley debut in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, coming in for Gethin Jones, who was missing through illness.
Janko himself has been absent for much of the season through injury but starred against the Owls in the South Yorkshire derby.
But he asserted that his aim between now and the end of the season is to play as much as he can and help the Reds finish as high as possible.
He said, “I just want to get as many minutes as I can and help the team to get as many points as we can. It’s already crazy what we’ve achieved but we’re trying to keep going and get as high up the table as we can.
“It was very difficult being injured but as I’ve said, I had good people around me who looked after me, it was really unfortunate. The Gaffer told me to keep my head up, just try to get back fit and I’ll give you your chance. It was a good motivation for myself and I just wanted to get back playing. The Championship is a very competitive league, you know you’re going to get a fight and I love the league. I just want to play and help the team.”
Janko’s start against the Owls was his full debut for the Reds following his loan move from Celtic and gave his assessment of his performance, and the match as a spectacle.
“It was a great game with lots of emotion, it felt great to be back on the pitch again and playing with the lads. It’s been a very long time in coming and that makes it even better. I wasn’t used to it, but at Celtic I had the same kind of long-term injury, but I had good people around me and they helped me.
“I thought it was alright, it was my first start after a very long time out. At the beginning it was a bit shaky but I got quite confident and it was alright. I like to play both, but at Celtic or Manchester United I used to switch between right-back, right-wing and left-back but wherever the Gaffer plays me, I’m trying to do my best,” Janko added.
Working under Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom is something that Janko has enjoyed incredibly, and praised ‘Hecky’ for showing such faith in him. The right-sided Swiss Under-21 international explained why he feels it is a pleasure to work under the Head Coach.
“The Gaffer tells us everything, he prepares every player and everyone knows their role. If there are any changes, everyone knows what he’s doing, everyone knows what they’re doing,” he said.
Janko is enjoying his time with the Reds and has not ruled out the possibility of a return to Oakwell next season, or even sealing a permanent switch to the Reds.
For now, his plan is to go back to the Scottish Champions Celtic, but admits he does not know what his future holds.
Janko added, “The plan is to go back there but they’ve just won the league and I’m happy for them as well. You never know in this game what will happen. The boys are buzzing and they’ve broken loads of records as well so I’m happy for them.
“Celtic is a huge club but like at any club, there is a fight to play. You never know where football will take you and we’ll just have to see in the summer what happens.”
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