Newcastle United's 18-year-old academy prospect Henry Johnson made an unexpected senior debut at Valencia's iconic Mestalla Stadium during the summer, as head coach Matthias Jaissle turned to the club's youngsters to supplement pre-season preparations. Johnson also featured in friendly matches with Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg.
Johnson, who signed his first professional contract earlier this summer, has been a regular fixture in first-team training since. He captained the club's under-18 side last season and has now impressed after stepping up to under-21 level, where he has been an ever-present in the starting XI under lead coach Robbie Stockdale.
Stockdale praises first-team transition
Stockdale believes Johnson's first-team experiences have helped him make positive strides forward this season. "All the players that go with the first team gain confidence from it," Stockdale told Chronicle Live. "I have to say the first team staff have been really good with the younger players, been really good with myself and my staff in terms of the transition of players between the squads. So any experience they can get training with the first team, being around it on a match day, can only be positive."
Chronicle Live saw that confidence first hand last Friday when Johnson grabbed a goal and an assist from right-back as the young Magpies beat Luton Town 4-1 in the Premier League Cup.
Versatility key to breakthrough
Johnson, a centre-half by trade, is comfortable on the ball and has actually played half of his games this season as a right-back. He has impressed so much that Stockdale feels the jury is still out on his best position, and believes that will help him make the leap into the professional game, using Lewis Miley's versatility in the first team as an example to follow.
"I'll start with the qualities first. He brings really good physicality, good technical ability," Stockdale added. "He's loud, he's vocal, which is a big plus as well."
"I don't think we really know where Henry's best position is just yet. I don't think we need to know either. If you look at some of the players that make the break through to first team, they maybe do that in a position that they haven't been used to in the past."
"I suppose the best example is Lewy Miley at the moment, isn't it? To get into the first team you might have to play a couple of different positions and that's OK. My experience tells me that it's usually difficult for a young centre-half to get into a team all the time. So maybe right back to start with would be if you're really nailing it down."
"But that's not to say that he hasn't played centre-half in pre-season and done really well. I wouldn't be in a rush to pigeonhole him into a position."
Johnson targets St James' Park appearance
Johnson's mentality is impressive too, and he has big ambitions this season after getting a taste of first-team action over the summer. "My biggest achievement would be making my senior debut for Newcastle United," Johnson told Newcastle United's official matchday programme.
"It was against Valencia at the Mestalla where, funnily enough, I went for a stadium tour with my family about 10 years ago. I wasn't expecting it but to get 25 minutes at the Mestalla in front of so many fans was ridiculous."
"That was a really proud moment but I am not the type to enjoy the experience. I was there purely with the aim of getting on to the pitch. Of course, you have got to take some of it in but my mind was set on making my debut."
"It sounds weird but I would have been disappointed if I hadn't come on the pitch. When you know the work rate you have and the effort you have put in, that is the stuff you want to be aiming for."
"When I cam on, it all happened so quick. I remember Malick Thiaw was struggling a little bit but you just react as if you were playing an under-21s game. I didn't think anything of it until after the game but it all set in after clapping the fans at full-time and when I spoke to my parents."
"You realise it is a great achievement but achievements are there to push you on further. I need to keep going and hopefully playing in a Premier League or cup game is next. That is what I am striving towards."
Johnson's next step on that journey will be playing at St James' Park when Newcastle under-21s take on Sunderland under-21s in Premier League 2, something he experienced twice in the summer too. Opportunity knocks and Johnson seems the type who is ready to take it.
