John Joshua "JJ" McKiernan (born 18 January 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League One club Lincoln City and the Northern Ireland U21 national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Joshua McKiernan | ||
| Date of birth | 18 January 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Southampton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lincoln City | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2018 | Andover Town | ||
| 2018–2022 | Watford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Watford | 0 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Bohemians (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → Eastleigh (loan) | 41 | (4) |
| 2023–2024 | Morecambe | 28 | (7) |
| 2024– | Lincoln City | 10 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2020– | Northern Ireland U21 | 11 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:27, 16 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:42, 16 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editBorn in Southampton, McKiernan joined Watford at U18 level in December 2018[1] having previously played for non-league Andover Town in the FA Youth Cup. He signed his professional contract in July 2021[2] and has been given squad number 43.[3]
McKiernan moved to Bohemians on loan in January 2022[4] and made one appearance[5] before returning to Watford to attend pre-season training camp in Austria, including an appearance against Panathinaikos.[6] McKiernan joined National League team Eastleigh in August 2022 on loan.[7] He was released from Watford at the end of the 2022–23 season.[8]
On 1 July 2023, McKiernan signed for League Two club Morecambe on a one-year deal.[9][10] On 7 October McKiernan made history at Morecambe with the club's first ever away hat-trick against Colchester United in a 3–1 win,[11] two of the goals scored after going down to a ten man team.[12]
On 1 July 2024, McKiernan joined Lincoln City on a four-year deal.[13] He made his debut on 10 August, in a 3–2 win against Burton Albion where he started the game.[14] His first goal came in the EFL Trophy against Manchester City U21 on 13 November 2024.[15]
International career
editMcKiernan is eligible to represent England and Northern Ireland at international level. He chose to represent Northern Ireland at international level, qualifying through his paternal grandparents.[16] He was selected at 18 to make his debut with Andy Crosby's U21 squad against Finland, obtaining a yellow card in the 21st minute.[17] During the 2023–24 season, McKiernan was called up again for the Northern Ireland U21 2025 Euro Qualifiers.[18]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 16 November 2024[19]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Watford | 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020–21 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bohemians (loan) | 2022 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Eastleigh (loan) | 2022–23[20] | National League | 41 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 5 |
| Morecambe | 2023–24[21] | League Two | 28 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 7 |
| Lincoln City | 2024–25[22] | League One | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1 |
| Career total | 80 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 92 | 13 | ||
References
edit- ^ Affleck, Kevin (1 July 2020). "Hart On McKiernan: "His Story Is Brilliant". Watford FC. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Official: Six Professional Deals In Academy". Watford FC. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Watford's players have their squad numbers, changes still possible". Watford Observer. 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Official: McKiernan Moves To Bohemian". Watford FC. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Roster Bohemian 2022". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ "Match Report: Watford 0–0 Panathinaikos". Watford FC. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Metcalfe, Neil (3 August 2022). "Watford's JJ McKiernan joins Eastleigh on loan". Watford Observer. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Academy: Contract Offers & Departures Confirmed". www.watfordfc.com. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "McKiernan becomes latest addition". www.morecambefc.com. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Morecambe sign former Watford midfielder McKiernan". 31 March 2024. 1 July 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Sky Bet League Two: Post-match stat pack". www.efl.com. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "JJ McKiernan's fine hat-trick helped ten-man Morecambe claim an impressive win at Colchester". BBC. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Imps sign exciting midfielder McKiernan". Lincoln City FC. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Burton Albion 2–3 Lincoln City". www.weareimps.com. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Imps 5–0 Man City U21". Lincoln City FC. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Beacom, Steven (12 October 2020). "I can continue Northern Ireland's long links with Watford, says Under 21 debutant JJ McKiernan". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Northern Ireland-Finland | Under-21 2021". UEFA.com. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Tommy Wright's reign as Northern Ireland Under-21 manager got off to a losing start as they were beaten 1-0 by Luxembourg in their opening Euro 2025 qualifier at Mourneview Park". BBC. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "JJ McKiernan". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Games played by JJ McKiernan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Games played by JJ McKiernan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Games played by JJ McKiernan in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2024.