Blackett Excited For European Nights

New Celtic signing Tyler Blackett has revealed that he can’t wait to experience a packed Celtic Park in this season’s Europa League, the club’s official Twitter account reports.

The on-loan Manchester United defender has seen his opportunities at Old Trafford limited under Louis Van Gaal and sees progression at the Hoops as the next step in his development.

And Blackett, who watched Ronny Deila’s side sweep aside St Johnstone 3-1 on Saturday, revealed that he can’t wait to ply his trade at a full-house European night at Paradise.

Celtic is a massive club and the stadium is great. I’m sure the atmosphere, especially on European nights, will be great. I have watched a few games in the Scottish league and Celtic are known as a worldwide club.

The move up north gives the young Englishman the opportunity to reunite with former Manchester United team-mate Saidy Janko, with the Swiss star signing for the Hoops in the summer.

The pair played together in the under-21 side at Old Trafford over the past few years, and Blackett believes that the experience of teaming up with Janko in Scotland will allow them to experience an extra level of physicality that they weren’t exposed to.

I played with Saidy Janko for the last two years and he was a good player for us. He has moved up here and has told me that he is enjoying every moment. He says Scottish football is good and there’s a physical side to it that we don’t really get exposed to with under-21 games at United.

Playing every week is something that I’m trying to do. To get competitive football at such a great club like Celtic is always a plus.

Despite still carrying ambitions to win a place in Van Gaal’s starting XI down south, the 21-year-old has insisted that his eyes are focused solely on having a successful campaign with the Scottish Champions.

With a competitive Europa League campaign ahead as well as a treble-hungry squad at his disposal, there remains a lot to be excited about for Deila as the season progresses.

And Blackett only added to Deila’s choices as he revealed he can play in a multiple of positions for the Norwegian if required.

Through my younger days I was more of a left-back, but I’ve played at centre-back in the last year or two. I’m comfortable in both and wherever the manager needs me to play, I will play there. Obviously United is my club, but right now I’m focused on doing a job for Celtic and giving my best.

I have my own aims here and I’m aware that Jason Denayer did well here, but I have my own aims and I hope to do well myself. The 21s (at United) is not what it used to be, where you would be playing against 30-year-olds and 20 plus.

There are a lot of good players in the 21’s, but you want to test yourself against older players and their experience.