Newcastle United youngster Johnny Emerson could not hide his delight after making his first start for 18 months and believes he has returned to action at the perfect time following Matthias Jaissle's arrival at the club.
Emerson last started for Newcastle under-21s in April 2025 and since then a hernia injury first ruled him out of action before he ruptured his ACL in training that required surgery in October.
Return to action
The 20-year-old finally returned to action at the start of this season and made five substitute appearances before finally being handed his first start of the campaign in Friday's 4-1 win over Luton Town in the Premier League Cup.
Emerson created the young Magpies' first two goals on the night as an own-goal, a Henry Johnson header and a brace from summer signing Afner Ca ensured Robbie Stockdale's side kicked off the competition with a win.
"It's unreal," Emerson replied when asked how it felt to finally be back in the starting XI. "When he [Stockdale] said I was starting, obviously I've been in the squad quite a few times recently, but when he said I was starting, I was buzzing."
"There was obviously some positive nerves, but I couldn't wait to just get my first touch in the game because it's different to when coming on. You can build your way into the game and build your confidence up, but it's been a long time, so I was very happy."
"I felt physically good during the game, and then cramp just hit us and you can't fight cramp, so you just have to accept it, but during the game I felt physically really good, really quick, sharp and strong, but I'm tired now, obviously. I haven't played this much in a very long time."
One-v-one threat
Emerson looked dangerous throughout the game and he had the beating of Hatters left-back Darren Frimpong-Kwakye from the opening minute.
It was something Stockdale and his staff quickly realised and it was noticeable that the young Magpies started targeting attacks down the right channel.
Long balls forward from midfield and from the back were allowing Emerson to get one-v-one against his marker and the 20-year-old was positive every time he got the ball, looking to commit the full-back and get a cross or a shot away.
And that was where the first goal came from as Emerson hit the byline and his driven cross from the right-hand side was turned into his own net by Luton defender Dempsey Crace.
In the second half, it was Emerson's delivery from the right-hand side that was eventually headed home by Johnson, too, and he admitted it was nice to be 'trusted' by his manager and team-mates and hopes he has done enough to keep the shirt amid some stiff competition out wide at youth level.
"That's what I'm about, really," Emerson added. "That's what I love to do, I love to get on the ball and get one-v-one with a defender. I felt from early that he didn't really fancy it, so I knew every time I got the ball I was going to be able to get at him. That's what I love to do, I love to create chances, score goals and get one-v-one with a defender, so it was a very enjoyable match for me."
"It was good to be trusted. I think even at half-time, Robbie said that on the left side they were trying to get more bodies across and it was leaving me one-v-one against the defender. He was telling them to just keep feeding me the ball and let me go one-v-one. For me, it's a nice feeling to be trusted as the one that's the threat to create chances. I think it showed that it paid off in the end in the second half as well."
"To get that first sniff, it's really good. So I think I've done well today, but it's about doing well every day to stay in the team now. So I've done well to get two assists today, but I need to keep the shirt now and do that every game."
Recovery and mental barrier
But Emerson had to endure some dark days, too, on the road to recovery. He admitted it was the toughest period of his life but now he has made his first start he feels like he has broken down a mental barrier that will allow him to thrive this season.
"It was really tough, it was probably the toughest time of my life, really," he admitted. "But I think now, looking back, it's changed me as a person and I can try and use it as a positive. It was tough watching all my team-mates and friends play and I'm just sat watching the game and unable to really train or move properly. But now I'm back, looking back, it's definitely changed me for the better."
"It feels like something's been knocked down, like a wall's been knocked down. But I can't get too ahead of myself as well. Take one game at a time, take one session at a time and just stay fit, stay around the team and keep providing like I did tonight."
"I think everyone helped us, but obviously Carl [Nelson], he was my main physio during the time, so I spent the most time with him. And then even the safeguarding staff, the psychologists, I spoke to them a lot because obviously there were some tough days. But yeah, everyone around the academy was really good with us."
Perfect timing with first team bridge
Emerson's return to action could not have been timed better with the bridge between the academy and the first team as healthy as ever.
Head coach Matthias Jaissle has not shied away from giving youngsters an opportunity with a number of players being handed chances in pre-season and five of the under-21s side finding themselves on the bench in the Premier League win over Hull City.
Midfielder Mason Miley, forward Vakhtang Salia and defender Miodrag Pivas were called up to the first team squad against the Tigers and so, too, were wingers Kyran Thompson and Michael Mills.
Thompson and Mills are in direct competition with Emerson on the wings, with Matheos Ferreira and Trevan Sanusi - who have both had first team involvement of their own during pre-season - also competing for game time.
But Emerson is relishing the challenge of not only fighting for his place at under-21 level but also the chance to impress watching first team eyes.
"It's a perfect time," Emerson added. "A new manager came in and it is really exciting times, seeing lads were straight in with the first team in his first week. So to show that straight away, it's a good sign of things to come really."
"It's definitely motivating [the competition]. I think everybody in the squad is a good player. It's just about what you can produce in games. You've got to use that to your advantage and motivate you. It's really good to have good players coming for your shirt because it just motivates you to do better."
Emerson will hope to build on his positive momentum when Newcastle's under-21s make the short trip down the A19 to take on Hartlepool United in the National League Cup on Tuesday evening.
