Slow start hits new boys’ bid to settle

CALLUM JOHNSON admitted the winless start to the league season is impacting him settling in at Pompey.

The Blues’ new rightback explained he’ll only be comfortable in his new surroundings when his new side start picking up League One victories.

Johnson is adjusting to life in the area, after sealing a move for a fee in the region of £200,000 from Accrington Stanley earlier this month.

The 23-year-old has been welcomed into his new surroundings, but there’s no getting away from the fact it’s been a difficult start to the season on the pitch for Pompey.

And Johnson acknowledged that is the over-riding factor which will ultimately impact how he adapts to life at his new club.

He said: ‘Everyone has been really welcoming and the management has been great, but winning is the main thing.

‘The only thing that’s missing at the moment is the winning, but that’s the most important thing.

‘When that comes, everything will be alright.

‘When you’re winning it makes everything better, it makes life better.

‘When you’re losing as a footballer you take it home.

‘You shouldn’t, but that’s what you do. When we start winning, as I’m sure we will, everything will be perfect.’

It’s been a frenetic period for the man from the north east, as he finds his feet at the other end of the country.

And Johnson is now closing in on buying a property on the fringes of the city. He added: ‘It’s a long way from home but it’s a nice area, just things are a bit different with everything that’s going on at the minute.

‘I’ve only been here a couple of weeks and I’ve settled in well.’

Published by JPIMedia Print Holdings Limited. Registered in England and Wales no. 11573312. Registered Office: Third Floor, 1 King William Street, London, EC4N 7AF. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Printed by JPIMedia Printing (Portsmouth) Ltd.