Johnson determined to adhere to Hartley model

LEE Johnson could hardly contain his delight as he joined Hearts. He knew the club from his days collecting Panini stickers but was relieved to discover the seemingly-mandatory mullets of that era had gone.

That wasn't the real reason for the cheesy grin, though. The hair may be smaller but the aspirations are bigger. Still coming to terms with the massive size of the club, his assimilation may be aided by the realisation that the fans don't seem to mind the fact he's joined them from a small one. After all, these are supporters who idolise Andy Webster and Paul Hartley.

Neither were the finished article when they signed up from Arbroath and St Johnstone respectively and both took time to develop into automatic picks.

"And just look at those two now," said manager Graham Rix, who hopes to add several more players to a squad he describes as "threadbare" before the transfer window slams shut. "They are great examples. If it works out like those two I will be delighted but I have to do what I think is right.

"I think if you watched Clyde at the weekend, there were a lot of their boys who came from nowhere and you could see how they played. That proves that there's always one or two who slip through the net. But, to be fair, in this case, there were a lot of people after Lee, a lot of people, a lot of clubs. But he was delighted to come up here. He sees it as a great challenge."

Leaving behind average crowds of around 6,000 at Yeovil Town, Johnson knows his career is on an upward trajectory and is enthusiastic about playing in front of crowds almost three times that size.

"It's daunting for me. At the press conference I was put in front of 40-odd people, which I'm not used to. But playing in front of big crowds is every player's dream and I'm enjoying it. Facing 40 journalists is far more scary than playing in front of 16,000 fans at Tynecastle.

"I hope the Hearts fans take to me. I'll ask for time at the start because I'm adjusting to a new level. But I want to come flying on to the scene."

Both Webster and Hartley bedded in gently and were given time to adjust. With Johnson initially likely to prove back-up rather than demand a starting berth, he hopes to progress in a similar vein. With a Scottish mother, he is eligible to play for Scotland and while making the Hearts first team is the short-term goal, long-term he would love international honours.

"The SFA know of me because I was on standby for the under-17s under Ross Mathie and went up to Largs and trained. Coming here will put me in the limelight and that should help me. But it's at the back of my mind. All I can concentrate on is playing well for Hearts.

"I've come here with a fairly modest reputation but I'm confident I can emulate guys like Andy Webster and Paul Hartley, that's my aim. Paul in particular is someone I look up to. Hopefully I can follow the career path he's taken. I respect everyone as excellent players but on the pitch I'll be out to prove I'm good enough and reputations won't mean anything to me."

A diminutive 5ft 6in, he will quite literally look up to the current incumbent of the central midfield berth he is hoping eventually to fill. Manager Rix says he has been impressed by the confidence of the 24-year-old in training since he hooked up with the rest of the squad at Riccarton and insists they have captured a player on the cheap who is comfortable on the ball, passes well and provides a real threat from set pieces. That could work in his favour if, as expected, Hartley picks up a ban for his kick at Ross Wallace in the recent Celtic match.

His arrival will ensure there is greater competition for places but if Hartley plays to his potential then Johnson has been told he may have to wait for his chance.

"We are trying to sign people who could probably go straight into the team, although I'm not saying that they are, and that would give us a massive boost without a shadow of a doubt," said Rix, "but we also have to strengthen the squad and the club and that means bringing in players who might not go straight into the team but if they need to, they won't let us down. Lee falls into that category at the moment. But we do have other targets who would expect to go straight into the team. I'm fully aware that we are on the verge of what could be a great year for Hearts."

For Johnson, 2006 is already turning out to be a great year.

"At Yeovil we played in front of 23,000 at Charlton in the FA Cup and in the FA Trophy Final at Villa Park there was around 25,000 there - that would be the biggest I've experienced.

"I know I've jumped up a level now. I have kept tabs on Scottish football - I know Hearts made a great start and that sent shockwaves everywhere and with Mr Romanov coming in, it's definitely raised the profile of the club down south."

A guy who used to get stick from his Yeovil mates for staying back after training for a kick-about with the kids, such is his enthusiasm for the game, the old Panini sticker albums was all the introduction he needed. But he plans to be involved in some hair-raising feats as the season reaches a denouement in the hope that this Hearts squad will be remembered for more than their barnets.

Taken from the Scotsman