Johnny Emerson was taking part in a routine race-to-50 drill with Newcastle United's Under-21s when he changed direction and heard a pop. The 20-year-old Scotland Under-19 international had been hoping for a loan move and a first-team push; instead, a torn anterior cruciate ligament put his career on hold.
Just 18 months ago, Emerson was regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the Magpies' youth ranks, training with Eddie Howe's first team and attracting interest from EFL, National League and Scottish clubs. He had made his senior debut in a pre-season friendly at Hull before a hernia operation stalled him last summer, and then came the ACL injury in the early months of last season.
A routine drill that changed everything
“It was a simple drill you do everyday with a race to 50 paces with two teams and you are running and pressing, trying to win it back,” Emerson told Chronicle Live. “I went to press and changed direction and I heard a pop, it was as simple as that really.”
He had only recently returned from hernia surgery. “Last summer, I had hernia surgery and then came back to training for a few days. I was meant to play the day after, but I got injured on the Sunday,” he said. “It was a hard time for it to happen because I was training really well. I had been up with the first-team, I was feeling good and it felt like it was going to be a big year. I was hoping to go out on loan, maybe in January, and get some men’s football experience and that it happened.”
‘You get trapped in your own head’
Emerson admitted the early months of rehabilitation were brutal. “In the first few months, it was the hardest because you’re immobile so I couldn’t drive. I had to rely on other people and you feel bad because they’re going out of their way for you,” he said. “The days off were the worst, the best days of the week were being in here because when I wasn’t here, you get trapped in your own head and there were dark moments.”
His family and team-mates carried him through. “I couldn’t have asked any more of my family and it makes me emotional just thinking about it. When I got injured, the first thing I did was call my Mam. I couldn’t even tell her, I just broke down in tears. They live in Brampton and she was literally here straightaway,” he said. “Some of my team-mates, when I spoke about the days off being hard, they would pick me up and take me for food. It was great help having such big support.”
Steve Harper’s call
Newcastle academy director Steve Harper also made sure Emerson felt supported. “I went for a scan and then went to my Mam and Dad’s house because that felt right. The physio called me and told me my results and within ten minutes four different coaches rang me to offer support and then Steve Harper rang me,” Emerson recalled. “I didn’t even have his number, it was just a random number but it was him when I answered. It was nice to feel that support because it felt like a big thing from him. At the time, it meant a lot because he offered security and support.”
Tasting first-team standards
Before the injury, Emerson had spent time with the senior squad and got a glimpse of what he was aiming for. “It’s where you want to be,” he said. “Once you have a taste of it, you don’t want to be back with the academy and I don’t mean that in a bad way. You see the standards up there and you are part of that and you think ‘this is what I want to do’. It just inspires you to be up there more.”
He has studied the likes of Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes. “It was really good because I tried to take little bits from players, just watching them do certain things and implement that in my own game,” Emerson said. “Anthony Gordon is very emotionless, he is very controlled in certain situations and that is something that I have looked at and want to be like him. I’d look up to him because i’m a similar style of player in a similar position and the way he carries himself on and off the pitch is an inspiration.”
Next steps on the road back
Now in the final stages of recovery, Emerson has been involved in training with Robbie Stockdale’s Under-21s, but a return to matches is still being managed carefully. Thursday’s friendly at National League North club Spennymoor Town came too soon, but he will travel to Spain with the Under-21s this weekend for a training camp at the Pinetar Arena complex.
“When you get your boots on, even though it’s slow, when you’re on the grass, and get in that team training, with a passing drill, I felt over the moon,” he said. “You take it for granted, but that meant loads to me. Everyday I was looking out of the window, watching training, and just wanting to be back. I don’t take it for granted now because you just get used to it when you’re playing and training everyday. I am more grateful for the position I am in.”
His goal is to feature for the Under-21s before the new campaign and then get pre-season minutes. “I’m building up. Today we did an eleven vs eleven game and it was my first taste of that. I just need to stay in training every day and that’s what I’ve learnt,” he explained. “I had plans to go on loan, but now I am planning less and just taking it day-by-day and hopefully I can get some minutes in pre-season. There is a game this week, I’m not sure I’ll be involved in that but we will see.”
“I don’t want to jinx anything, I just want to take it day-by-day, get through sessions and the confidence will come from there,” he added.
