During the close season one of Paul Sturrock's signings was a player who's name would have meant little to United fans. Hasney Aljofree was not a household name, even in his native North West of England, but despite what may have been a disappointing season so far, the arrival of the former Bolton defender has been one of the decided plus points.

Very quickly, he has established himself in the Tannadice first team which was the Manchester-born defender's prime reason for taking the gamble of moving north of the border as he reveals. "Although my contract with Bolton was up at the end of last season, I had the option to stay. "In the first half of last season, things had gone well for me, I was involved in the first team squad all the time, either on the bench, or actually in the side as we tried to bounce back to the Premiership. "And the numerous injuries we had meant that I filled the gaps in several positions from left-back or wing back where I have played most of my games to the heart of the defence or even in central midfield. "Last October, Sam Allardyce took over from Colin Todd and I remained very much involved, again filling in here and there although I did get a few games in the starting line up. However, for the second half of the campaign, I found myself back in the reserves and when I had a chat with the gaffer at the end of the season, whilst offering me another contract, he said that it might be in my best interests to leave if I wanted regular first team football.

"Initially, I had no thoughts of heading north. "Colin Todd who had been in charge at the Heebok Stadium at the start of last season before resigning and eventually moving on to Swindon was keen to sign me. "But at the back of my mind, 1 felt it was big drop down to the English second Division and Portsmouth were also expressing an interest when I heard that Dundee United had been in touch. "The thought of playing against Hangers and Celtic was definitely an influencing factor in my decision because I believed that it would be a big step up for me and an opportunity to kick-start my career" Hasney opined. Not that this versatile defender hasn't had a taste of the big time. He joined Kolton Wanderers directly after leaving school but it was as a stripling nine-year old that his first association with a senior club began, training at Manchester United s School of excellence under first Brian Kidd, and then Nobby Stiles.

When he was fifteen, Manchester United had just signed the England Schoolboys left-back, but all was far from lost with offers of an apprenticeship either at Anfield or with Bolton Wanderers. "Having been impressed by the set up at Bolton and after speaking to Dean Crombie, then the youth team manager, and now the chief scout at the Beebok Stadium, I felt that it would be a good place to start my career. "Certainly, initially, it was far removed from the glamour associated with being a professional footballer. "To be honest it came as a shock to the system. The days were long starting at 7.30 in the morning and not finishing until around 6.30 at night, but it was great experience." recalled Hasney. And there was to be an early boost to his fledgling career with an international call up as he reveals. "Just a couple of months after starting as a trainee with Bolton, although still only 16,1 got a call up to England Under 18 sauad from coach Ted Powell. "That was a big thrill because even although we were beaten 6-5 by Denmark at Walsall, playing alongside the likes of Lee Bowyer. Emile Heskey and Danny Mills was a real fillip to my career. "Unfortunately, apart from being called up for get togethers, I never did figure in a competitive fixture for the England youth team, but it marked a very eventful first year in the senior game."

Life in his second year didn't go so smoothly, however. "Manager Bruce Rioch, who had been an unbelievable help to me resigned to take over at Arsenal and with Boy McFarland and Colin Todd, taking over in Quick succession, It was like starting all over again and I never made any real progress. "It was like night and day compared to my first season and overall very disappointing," he recounts, adding, "However, I was offered a professional contract and Bolton earned a place in the Premiership in my first term as a pro, although I didn't figure in the promotion campaign. The powerful defender was, however, to step on to the first team stage for the first time before his twentieth birthday, figuring in the starting line up in a 2-1 win at home to Blackburn Rovers. He retained his place for the following match too, but his brief acauaintainship with the Premiership was soon over. "We lost 4-0 at Derby and as Bolton vainly tried to avoid the drop in the few remaining games, there was no room for an inexperienced 19-year old," explained Hasney.

Only four first team outings followed back in the Nationwide First Division, until he graduated to being an important member of the first team sauad last term, figuring in 15 competitive games last term. But just being in the sauad and not getting a regular place earlier was the motivating factor in leaving Bolton after six years and as United fans already have seen for themselves his no nonsense style of defending - according to Carling Opta statistics, he has made more clearances than another player in the SPL - has seen him immediately and firmly establish himself in the United rearguard. Just playing first team football wasn't Hasuey's only reason for accepting former manager Paul Sturrock's Tannadice invitation during the summer as Hasney explains, "Left-hack is very much my preferred position, and after playing here, there and everywhere, getting the opportunity to establish myself there was another reason I opted to join United."

Unfortunately, the team hasn't enjoyed the best of starts, culminating in the man who signed him resigning after Hasney had figured in a mere two games, but the poor start and change of manager hasn't in any way curbed his enthusiasm. "I feel that I have settled in very quickly. The game is faster up here, but I knew that would be the case. "The lads in the dressing room have all been great and it's a real shame that results haven't been going our way. "However, I am sure that once we turn the corner we will get results because we know that we can play ten times better than we have been doing. "Of course, we have a new gaffer, but even in the short time that I have been playing for him, I already have the utmost respect for him. "He likes to look after everyone, and that in turn makes you feel good in yourself and helps bring out the best in players and that in turn will tell in our results." ©Tangerine & Black