I’ll feel the pressure on me seeing Scholes, Giggs & Becks ..I just hope Keane doesn’t shout at me
When Paul Scholes is watching how you pass a ball, the pressure is on.
Hav ing your f i rst chat with Ryan Giggs can be pretty daunting too.
But it still beats sitting alone in a Turk ish apar tment , wondering where your next wage is coming from.
And that’s why Stevie Mallan is going to savour every minute at Salford City this season.
The midfielder is back in British football after a spell away that left him reluctant to play abroad again.
On the pitch, the Scot loved his stint at Yeni Malatyaspor where he tested himself against the biggest clubs in Turkey.
But off it, Mallan was left frustrated and disappointed by broken financial promises that forced him to dip into his life savings just to get by.
Having joined Yeni on a permanent deal from Hibs after a successful loan, the 26-year-old only got one month’s salary.
Eventually, he left early and is now relying on FIFA to get him the cash he’s owed.
His early exit – as well as a back injury – meant Mal lan was without a club before Salford snapped him up.
The League Two outfit, owned by The Class of ’ 92, have big ambitions to climb the English divisions – and the Scot wants to be part of it.
He ha s a l r eady been introduced to the likes of Scholes and Giggs who left the boyhood Manchester United fan in awe.
Mallan said: “Scholes was at training the other day. And at the camp we had in York the week before, Giggs was there.
“I got to introduce myself to both and had a good chat with Giggs. My English team growing up was United, so it was great.
“With Giggs, Scholes or even David Beckham watching, there might be a bit of pressure on me at free-kicks!
“From what I’ve heard, Roy Keane now comes to a lot of the home games as well.
“I just hope he doesn’t start shouting at me! These guys were superstars to me growing up.
“Having Giggs asking me how I’m getting on then Scholes watching me train – someone I idolised as a kid – is incredible.
“Scholes was always my favourite player. So when he’s watching you doing a passing drill it can be intimidating.”
But Mallan will relish that experience especially after what he endured in Turkey last term.
The former Scotland Under-21 star was part of a squad told to live off their bonus money before
Ma l t y a s p o r we r e eventually relegated from the Super Lig.
He wouldn’t change his decision to play abroad but the circumstances that forced his return to the UK have left a sour taste in his mouth. Mallan said: “When I moved there on loan I loved it.
“But w he n I s i g ne d permanently wages weren’t getting paid and that’s why I left.
“I only got one month’s salary last season, the first month, and by the end I was having to use my own savings.
“The club still expected me to play. They kept saying they were waiting on TV rights money coming in but it was just excuse after excuse.
“They told us we could live off bonuses we were getting. But with the team not doing great, there weren’t too many of them!
“The boys were getting f r u st rat ed and it definitely crept into our performances – all you could think of was when the next wage might be. “I’m currently going through the FIFA proceedings to try to get the money from my contract.
“It soured the whole experience for me over there. Never in my wi ldest dreams did I think that I’d play against Galatasaray, Besiktas and other big clubs.
“I did and it was amazing. It’s a pity the money side spoiled it.
“It has definitely put a question in my mind if another opportunity should come up to play abroad again.”
Mallan is now fully fit and ready to be a key player for new Salford City boss Neil Wood.
He said: “It’s a different style of football in Turkey – slower, more technical, strategic, more counter-attacking.
“But I got to play against better players so from that aspect I enjoyed Turkish football.
“Now I’m in League Two where it’s fast, ferocious and endto- end. But Salford have been trying to sign me for a couple of years now.
“Before I went to Turkey I was supposed to come here but the move fell through.
“Everyone knows the story here. I ’ ve watched the TV documentaries like everyone else and the club is trying to get up the leagues.
“That’s the ambition I have as well. It’s good to be involved with a club that’s only looking up the way, not down.
“The plan is to be in the Championship in a couple of years. That’s what the manager wants from us.
“This year there will be a big push for that.
“I want to be a difference maker for the team, to score goals and make assists.
“I want to get back to those f irst couple of years at Hibs where I was playing well and scoring goals.
“Hopefully people will start talking about me again.”