Saidy Janko has told Ronny Deila that he is ready and willing to step into the void left by Mikael Lustig.

The Swedish defender is not expected to win his fitness race ahead of tomorrow night’s critical UEFA Champions League second leg play-off against Malmo and Janko, who played in Saturday-s 3-1 win over Dundee United, is itching to take his place.

The 19-year-old has insisted he is rooting for his team-mate – but will happily deputise should Lustig fail to make it.

“I am definitely ready,” he said. “I have to be. If I am playing it would be great.

“It is a big opportunity for me and I feel ready.

“It is a big game and if I am asked to play a part then I am confident that I can do that. I have not played a lot of games but when you are training you also get to know the players and the way they play.

“I am ready and I think now it is up to the manager whether he thinks I need to play.”

Lustig’s absence is a blow for Deila given the composure that the right-back lends the team, but Janko was assured during Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 win over Dundee United which may give the Hoops boss a decision to make.

Efe Ambrose can also play in that right-back berth and it could be that Deila opts to go for the experience of the Nigerian internationalist.

Certainly, though, Janko is not fazed by the magnitude of the occasion.

“I want to play in games like this, that is why I came to Celtic,” he said. “We all know how important the game is and I feel confident that if I am asked to play then I can do a job for the team.

“I am a professional and I always try to come on and do my best.

“You need to be relaxed and ready to play.

“I think I am back to full fitness. It would be great to play, of course it would be, but I also hope that Mikael is back soon. He is important for the team and it is good that there is competition for places between us because it makes us better players.”

Meanwhile, Deila has dismissed reports linking Celtic with a loan move for Ryan Gauld.

The Scotland under-21 internationalist had been linked with a season-long loan move from Sporting Lisbon but Deila was dismissive of the deal.

“There is nothing to say there and there is nothing to the story,” he said. “We are aware of lots of things and we will always try to make the squad stronger. Hopefully when the transfer window closes we will be strong for the season ahead.”

Gauld himself seemed to dismiss the story on social media over the weekend, tweeting, “you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers.”