New Hibernian signing Darnell Johnson aims to take a major step in following the example of Godfather Emile Heskey by making his first-team debut.

The Leicester defender joined Hibs on loan on Thursday after Ryan Porteous was ruled out for the rest of the season and could make his first appearance against Aberdeen on Saturday.

The 20-year-old has been encouraged in his goal by his father – a former youth team colleague of Heskey – and has been desperate for a first-team chance.

"My Godfather, Emile Heskey, played for Leicester for a lot of years," Johnson told Hibs TV. "I wanted to do the same thing as him.

"Him and my dad grew up together playing youth-team football. It's funny, my dad is a centre-forward and I'm a centre-back. I guess he told me what to do to annoy a forward.

"Me and my dad always had that bond of: 'When I'm older I want to be a footballer' and we have worked on it since I was young.

"For me it's been a long time coming. I have been banging on I want to play men's football and get in the first-team world.

"I want to grasp this opportunity and play, and I can't wait to start."

Johnson gave Hibs fans a flavour of what to expect.

"I'd like to say I'm old school and new school," he said.

"I know how to lock up shop, be aggressive, win everything in the air, don't give the forward a yard.

"Then again, with the new school, I can play out, I'd like to say I can use both my feet.

"I am versatile because I can play right-back and centre-back so I am quite dynamic."