Young Ethan has high aims after signing his first pro deal with Cobblers

The 17-year-old striker, who grew up in Rushden and scored an incredible 346 goals in 133 games at youth level, put pen to paper on his first pro deal earlier this week after impressing for the Under-18s.

Johnston’s route into the professional game has not been all plain-sailing.

He was rejected after trials at the age of nine and then again when he was 15, and it was only through Northampton’s football and education programme that he made a name for himself, following in the foosteps of Scott Pollock.

After working his way through the FEP, Johnston continued his goalscoring form for the U18s this term, netting 18 times in all, and that prompted the Cobblers into handing him a contract until the end of next season.

“It’s an honour to play for your local professional club,” said Johnston, a lifelong Liverpool supporter.

“I used to play for Diamonds when I was younger. They were my first club but it’s really good to be here and it’s always important to have local players at the club.

“I’m happy to be part of it myself and be one of those players, especially as I’ve grown up watching the Cobblers.”

Johnston, who scored 93 goals in one season for Corby Diamonds at U13 level, has already been in the matchday squad twice this season, against Leyton Orient and Derby County, and the success of other young players, such as Shaun McWilliams and Pollock, proves that opportunities will come along if he works hard and stays patient.

He added: “It inspires you to see Shaun and Scott in the first-team and it gives you hope because it shows you can be done if you work hard and do the right things. The club gives chances to young players, which is really encouraging, and I want to prove myself and show everyone at the club and the fans what I can do.”

Manager Keith Curle has been impressed by the way Johnston has handled himself when he’s trained with the first-team this season, and now he’s got a taste of it, the teenager wants more.

“The first-team squad have been really welcoming towards me,” he added.

“They’re all good lads and they welcomed me when I first came in and that was really important.

“At the moment I’ll either be at the club with the first-team or with the youth team because I’m still 17 but whoever I play for I’m going to have to work hard and prove myself.

“But I want to try and break into the first-team and I’d like to be involved before the end of the season.

“I was in the squad for Orient and Derby and the Derby game in particular was an unbelievable experience because the ground was packed out and it was a big occasion, especially with Rooney playing for them, so that was fantastic

“Hopefully I can get a few more minutes in this season.”