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 | Morecambe | ||
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– | Morecambe | 24 | (7) |
International career‡ | |||
2020– | Northern Ireland U21 | 7 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:10, 2 January 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:49, 13 February 2024 (UTC) |
John Joshua McKiernan (born January 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Morecambe and the Northern Ireland U21 national team.
Born 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]
McKiernan is eligible to represent England and Northern Ireland at international level. McKiernan chose to represent Northern Ireland at international level, qualifying through his paternal grandparents.[13] 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.[14] During the 2023–24 season, McKiernan was called up again for the Northern Ireland U21 2025 Euro Qualifiers.[15]
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[17] | National League | 41 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 5 |
Morecambe | 2023–24[18] | League Two | 24 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 7 |
Career total | 66 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 75 | 12 |