Zak Johnson is eager to continue his development with Hartlepool United after extending his loan deal from Sunderland. The young talent from Sunderland’s academy has prolonged his stay with Hartlepool until the New Year, following an impressive initial month-long loan.
Johnson joined Hartlepool in September and made his debut for the club in a 2-0 home defeat against Solihull Moors. During his first stint, he featured in six of the seven games he was available for, quickly establishing himself as one of Hartlepool’s key defenders. Head coach John Askey extended his loan until January.
Expressing his happiness about the extension, Johnson emphasized the importance of learning and developing within senior football. He also praised the welcoming atmosphere within the team.
“I’m really happy to extend it until January; I think these first few games have been a real step forward in my development, and I think in every game I’m learning and developing new things,” Johnson stated.
While he’s keen on improving his game, Johnson understands that the team’s success in terms of accumulating points is the top priority.
“We’ve got to get more points, that’s the main thing,” he added. “I can talk about myself and say I want to develop and I want to improve and get game time, but the most important thing is points. I’ve come to Hartlepool, it’s a big club, and we have high expectations, and the most important thing is getting those three points and building from there.”
What intrigues Johnson the most is the demand for winning in the senior football environment, which he didn’t experience as much in the academy. He appreciates the significance of each game and the pressure that comes with it.
“It’s the thing I’ve enjoyed the most in terms of being able to go into a game and understanding there’s a real significance to it for the fans, for yourself and for the manager and the team around you,” Johnson explained.
He mentioned that this shift from academy football to a more results-oriented senior football has been a key factor behind his decision to extend his stay at Hartlepool.
“I think I’ve got a real buzz off coming out and playing in front of the fans, [I know results aren’t what we wanted], but for me personally I feel like it’s a real step forward into understanding men’s football,” he said. “I think that knock-back of defeat is only motivation for us to try and push on. So straight away getting brought into that is something I’ve enjoyed.”
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