I was six months at home and now I'm here playing for Leeds United doing the best job in the world

Six months of climbing the walls at home or playing for Leeds United? Even as a back-up role model for the club’s younger faces, there is no debating that choice for Josuha Guilavogui, who is savouring every day in West Yorkshire.

The 34-year-old veteran of more than 330 Bundesliga and Ligue 1 appearances, as well as seven France caps, arrived at Elland Road two months after the transfer window shut. Guilavogui was the solution for Daniel Farke in a very specific crisis after long-term injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.

The manager was very specific about what he needed from a small pool of available players and his new signing is only too happy to play five minutes or 10 games this term. While Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka go from strength to strength, captain Ampadu will expect to return swiftly after injury, leaving Guilvaogui on the fringes of the squad.

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“When everybody is fit, the player who was there will play and me, I'm here to help,” he said. “If I can give only one per cent and we can achieve our goals, I will be the happiest man in the world.

“I know my role. Like I said, I'm 34-years-old, I'm looking over our young players and if the coach needs me, I will give everything.

“I'm professional, I love my job. I'm doing the best job in the world. Even at the training, I will try to give my best and the coach knows even if he needs me for five, 10, 15, one game, I will always be there to do it.”

The former Mainz midfielder made his Whites debut on Saturday and he was not the only one. Teenagers Charlie Crew and Sam Chambers also made their bows. Guilavogui will take as much satisfaction from helping the club’s next generation as he would from his own playing time.

Before he signed, Farke was clear with Guilavogui, and in the media, he should not expect to play every week and, throughout his contract, he would need to be guiding the club’s youngsters on and off the field.

“When he told me this, I said to him ‘This is a very good opportunity for me because I want to stay in football after my career, but I hope I have maybe one or two years,’” he said. “They are the future of the club and if I can give my little stone on their path to going up to improve, I will do it with a smile on my face.”

Coaching appeals to Guilavogui, but he does not want to give up on his playing days too soon. He cracks a smile as he laughs off any image of him carrying the balls out to set training sessions up at Thorp Arch.

“I would like to coach, but I see me as a football player,” he said. “I will not come with the balls and say ‘Okay, guys, this is the training.’

“I know my role and I'm happy to be there. We have a fantastic group and I'm coming to the training with a smile.

“I know there's not a lot of people in the world that can go to the job with a smile. I was six months at home and now I'm here playing for Leeds United. So what's best?”