Portsmouth new-boy Callum Johnson ready to be thrown in at the deep end
Callum Johnson admitted he’s ready to be thrown in at the deep end with Pompey.
The Blues’ newest recruit completed a whirlwind move from Accrington yesterday and immediately trained with his new Fratton Park team-mates as they finalised their preparations for tonight’s EFL Trophy tie against Colchester (7pm).
It’s not clear yet if the right-back will feature in the game against the U’s, although in all likelihood he will.
But if called upon, the defender said he’d be ready.
Johnson featured regularly for Accy in pre-season and played the full 90 minutes as John Coleman’s side lost to Burton Albion on penalties in the Carabao Cup.
Fitness will therefore not be an issue, with the 23-year-old desperate to pull on the Pompey shirt for the first time.
Johnson told The News: ‘I've played in five or six friendlies, Bolton, Salford, Burton in the Carabao Cup, Blackburn.
‘Hopefully I’m straight up to speed.
‘I really enjoyed training yesterday, it was a good tempo and you could see the quality within the players.
‘We’ll see (if he plays against Colchester). I haven't really spoken about that, hopefully, if I am I will be ready,
‘I am looking forward to pulling on the blue shirt and giving my all.
‘The manager has told me to keep doing what I have been doing as an Accrington player.
‘He’s told me he knows I can play and keep my head down, do it in training and see what happens.’
Johnson has never played at Fratton Park, while only one of his 119 senior outings has come against Pompey.
That came last December when Accrington thumped the Blues 4-1 at the Wham Stadium.
Jackett’s side were clearly below par that day, with the result ending a 10-match unbeaten run.
However, Johnson’s squad the quality within the Blues squad was still there to be seen.
He added: ‘It was probably Accrington’s best performance of the season.
‘I think I should have had a penalty actually, Ronan Curtis brought me down.
‘I was going to mention it to him at training. He brought me down and got away with it.
‘It was one of them where we played really well and Pompey were poor.
‘Even in that game, though, I could see the quality of some of the players here. I knew they would finish at the top end of the lead.
‘I’d say that was the best we probably played as a team that season.’