" JOHNNY RUSSELL "

Cardiff City transfer news: Who is Johnny Russell? The Derby man who turned down his beloved Celtic for a Scotland shot

8 JUNE 2015

BY GARETH ROGERS

He's a goal scoring winger, who is a regular fixture in Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad. Does Johnny Russell sound just the player Cardiff City need? Here's everything you need to know about the Bluebirds' Derby County target.

Cardiff City target Johnny Russell is a Scottish striker, turned winger, who played 49 games for Derby County as they just missed out on the Championship play-offs last season.

He's 25 and scored eight goals in 2014/15 before winning his third Scotland cap in their 1-0 win against Qatar on Friday night.

Russell was the subject of a bid from Bournemouth last summer but it's unlikely Eddie Howe will come back with a fresh bid, now his team are in the Premier League.

Now he's the man who Russell Slade sees as the ideal candidate to help his squad push for Premier League promotion in 2015/16 and here we unearth the stylish star's full story..

The early years
Jonathan Russell was born in Glasgow on April 8, 1990.

He attended Coatbridge High School, in North Lanarkshire, on the outskirts of Glasgow.

The school website says: "Johnny from an early age showed huge potential and thorough dedication."

He grew up a Celtic fan but was picked up by their Scottish Premiership rivals Dundee United as an under-13, after starring for Coatbridge Boys' Club.

Dundee United
Russell worked his way through the youth ranks at Tannadice and first played for the U19s in 2006.

A year later, having scored 62 youth team goals, he signed pro forms and made his first team debut off the bench in a 2-0 defeat at Falkirk.

In 2008 he spent half a season on loan at Forfar Athletic, scoring twice on his debut at East Sterling, before returning to Dundee after Christmas.

He made his first United start in January 2009, and haunted East Sterling again by scoring a penalty against them in an FA Cup win.

Russell then returned to Forfar for the rest of the season and had a spell at Raith Rovers at the start of the following campaign before making his Arabs mark by scoring a stunning header in a 3-2 win at Rangers on April 2, 2011.

He went on to become a hero on the Tannadice terraces and scored 72 goals in his 185 appearances for the club. He represented Scotland at U19 and U21 level and harboured ambitions of a senior international call-up.

Johnny Russell was a fans' favourite at Dundee United
He was the subject of bids from Italian outfit Catania and his boyhood favourites Celtic in 2013, but opted to leave for Derby County at the end of that season, with a year left on his contract, claiming a spell in the Championship would help him get the Scotland cap he craved.

The Glaswegian considered Dundee home after spending 10 years there. After leaving, he said: "They gave me everything and I’ll be forever grateful.”

Derby County
Nigel Clough fought off interest from Scotland, England and Italy to land Russell for £750,000 on June 10, 2013.

After arriving in Derby, Russell said he wanted to catch the eye of new Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, as fellow former Dundee United players Craig Conway and David Goodwillie had.

He scored a penalty on his Derby debut as the Rams drew 1-1 against Blackburn Rovers.

Johnny Russell has wowed the Derby fans with his goal scoring prowess
But he suffered two leg breaks and a fractured cheekbone in his time at Derby.

He also suffered the heartbreak of missing out on Premier League promotion during both of his two years at the Ipro Stadium, first losing in the play-off final to QPR and then missing out of the play-offs on the final day of the season after a 3-0 home defeat to Reading.

Last season though, he was a star for Derby as he scored eight goals in 49 appearances and blazed them to the top of the Championship before they eventually fell away under Steve McLaren.

He realised his international ambition on November 18, 2014, when he won his first Scotland cap, against England at Celtic Park - 11 miles from where he grew up.

Russell was delighted to set up a goal for former Dundee United teammate Andrew Robertson, but the Scots eventually lost 3-1.

He made his third international appearance against Qatar in Edinburgh on Friday night after coming on for James Forrest in the 1-0 win.

On Saturday, we reported Cardiff City's interest in the player, who is under contract until 2017 and would cost at least £1m.

I always thought he was primarily a striker but the media is labelling him as a winger. He's not a bad signing and if we can get him for less than £1m then I'd be happy.

I always thought he was primarily a striker but the media is labelling him as a winger. He's not a bad signing and if we can get him for less than £1m then I'd be happy.

Agree

Of the names being bandied about, Russell is the best so far. Can't see him coming to us though even if Tan is prepared to stump up the readies.

How have the Echo come to the conclusion that it will take a bid of around £1m, for Derby to sell him?? Apart from his injury spells that have put him out of action - over the 2 seasons that he has been at Derby. When he has been fit, he has usually played, near enough every game for them. Added to the fact that Derby paid £750,000 for him, I would have thought that they would have wanted at least £2m-£3m for him. Unless of course he is out of contract soon or he is in the last year of his contract there. Even if he is out of contract next summer, I still feel that in no way is £1m going to be enough to buy him. The guy is a quality act in this division, he scores goals, he created, he gets assists, he makes things happen and his final ball, along with his finishing is very good. Like I have said in previous posts about him. I would love for him to sign for us but I just can't see it happening. Added to that, even if the guy is available for transfer, then he is going to get much better offers than what we are offering him, cause there would definitely be a few Premiership teams after him if he became available, no doubt.

Bloooooobirds.

Nice player. It'll allow Burke to go

Burke to go???!

Nice player. It'll allow Burke to go

Burke? What season are you in

i really like johnny russell, from his dundee days, yeah he can play out on the wing or as the striker, hes got a good work ethic.

More chance of us getting a Jack Russell

Anyway are BORUSSIA DORTMUND Interested in him ??

I did sign Russell for my Anzhi side on FIFA 14 last year and he scored 50 goals in a season in the Russian Premier League. Not that it is real life or anything. I just like to find any glimmer of hope in a player!

Seen him come on for Scotland on Friday. Also seen him before a number of times for Derby and remember him being at Dundee Utd as well. Very decent player so pleased with this target.

Definitley more of a winger but an attacking winger in a 4-3-3 rather than a winger in a 4-4-2 who would be expected to get back a bit more.

More chance of us getting a Jack Russell

Anyway are BORUSSIA DORTMUND Interested in him ??

Dortmund have got no chance if we have got anything to do with it.

This sounds like the most spectacular signing so far to be honest. Russell would be good for us next season.