MX23RW : Wednesday, June 12 16:22:18| >> :600:1627811:1627811:

Darnell Johnson hopes to follow Godfather Emile Heskey's example at Hibs

The Leicester defender joined Hibs on loan on Thursday after Ryan Porteous was ruled out for the rest of the season.

New Hibernian signing Darnell Johnson aims to take a major step in following the example of Godfather Emile Heskey by making his first-team debut.

The Leicester defender joined Hibs on loan on Thursday after Ryan Porteous was ruled out for the rest of the season and could make his first appearance against Aberdeen on Saturday.

The 20-year-old has been encouraged in his goal by his father – a former youth team colleague of Heskey – and has been desperate for a first-team chance.

"My Godfather, Emile Heskey, played for Leicester for a lot of years," Johnson told Hibs TV. "I wanted to do the same thing as him.

"Him and my dad grew up together playing youth-team football. It's funny, my dad is a centre-forward and I'm a centre-back. I guess he told me what to do to annoy a forward.

"Me and my dad always had that bond of: 'When I'm older I want to be a footballer' and we have worked on it since I was young.

"For me it's been a long time coming. I have been banging on I want to play men's football and get in the first-team world.

"I want to grasp this opportunity and play, and I can't wait to start."

Johnson gave Hibs fans a flavour of what to expect.

"I'd like to say I'm old school and new school," he said.

"I know how to lock up shop, be aggressive, win everything in the air, don't give the forward a yard.

"Then again, with the new school, I can play out, I'd like to say I can use both my feet.

"I am versatile because I can play right-back and centre-back so I am quite dynamic."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'ae49d22d-ccf6-4b58-a24e-eb6a06540d89');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Darnell Johnson hopes to follow Godfather Emile Heskey\u2019s example at Hibs'});

ID:349059: cacheID:349059:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4019:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A calm and composed Neil Lennon in charge of Hibs in April 2018
Read Next:
Neil Lennon leaves Hibs by 'mutual consent'
>
Read more about Darnell Johnson Football
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, June 14
 
8pm
Saturday, June 15
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 16
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 17
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 18
 
5pm
Wednesday, June 19
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Thursday, June 20
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Group Stage
Spain
vs.
Italy
Friday, June 21
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 22
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 23
 
8pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 24
 
8pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 25
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Wednesday, June 26
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 29
Sunday, June 30
Monday, July 1
Tuesday, July 2
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!