Ross County full back Callum Johnson reveals research into potential Scottish Premiership opponents as Connor Randall injury presents opportunity to make mark in Staggies side
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Ross County right back Callum Johnson has been putting in the hours off the pitch to familiarise himself with the Scottish Premiership.
A summer arrival in Dingwall, it is Johnson's first time north of the border after plying his trade in England's League Two with Accrington Stanley, then one tier higher with Accrington, Portsmouth and Fleetwood Town.
There is always a period of adjustment for new signings, even more so when they are moving to a whole new league, but the Middlesbrough youth graduate says he has been keeping an eye on other games to get to know potential opponents he will be coming up against.
"I must have played around 200 games in League One and I know every winger, whether they are left or right-footed, whether they track me when I run forward, whether they are good in the air," Johnson said.
"I probably know just about every player in League One. Up here, I've been speaking to Enda Barron, the club analyst, and I've been finding out about the players.
"There are some I recognise from playing in England, such as players at Hearts and Aberdeen, but it's a new challenge for me to come up against new players. There are a lot of good players in this league, as we saw against Celtic on Saturday.
"I was in League One for four-and-a-half seasons, so unless clubs have a new player, perhaps on loan from a Premier League club for example, I knew about the players in the league.
"I would still watch analysis clips, but with Enda here at Ross County, we can look at the left wingers and left backs who would bomb on and he will talk to me about their strengths and weaknesses.
"We'll be playing against these sides three or four times this season, so I'll soon get to know them. Even in the first half against Celtic, I was watching on, looking at their wingers and it means next time we play Celtic you can take what you learn from watching into that game.
"It's massively important, especially for me having moved from England."
Opportunity to step up
Although Johnson has already made four appearance for the Staggies across the Premier Sports Cup and Premiership, he is yet to get on the pitch for more than an hour.
With Connor Randall's injury against Celtic last weekend likely to keep him out until the end of the year, though, the 25-year-old will likely get his chance to establish himself in the side.
It is often the case that a set-back for one player leads to an opportunity for another, and while Johnson was hardly wishing for his teammate to get hurt he fully intends on making his mark in the meantime.
"It's never nice to see anyone injured, it is part and parcel of the game," Johnson added.
"There is competition for every position. Every side in the country will have more than one player for each position.
"That's good for the team, especially when you push one another. I've always had competition, but managed to play a lot of games in my career.
"You need to fight and work as hard as you can and that brings the best out in you – then when an opportunity comes, you just have to take it.
"Good competition within the squad overall can only bode well for this season. Everyone will push themselves to the max to ensure they are the ones who are playing.
"Connor and I get on well, I have known him when I was younger and I was at Middlesbrough and he's helped me settle in.
"We both want to play in the team and it's unfortunate he's got an injury. Hopefully, he'll be back soon and we can push one another. Whoever is the best player will play - that's the way football is
