Rio: Seth will fuel our quest for glory

13 April 2012

Rio Ferdinand welcomed Seth Johnson to Elland Road last night with the pledge that Leeds United will not rest until they have turned their potential into trophies.

Johnson, the England Under 21 midfielder, completes his £9million move from Derby today in time to watch his new team-mates tackle second-round rivals Troyes in their bid to land the UEFA Cup.

Premiership leaders Leeds hope to parade their 22-year-old newcomer for the crowd, and skipper Ferdinand sees the signing as a step to having at least one prize to show the fans at the end of the season.

The England centre half said: 'We don't want to be remembered for our potential. Everybody talks about it, but it's a label we want to get rid of as soon as we can.

'I've not come here to sit around for a couple of years waiting to win something. I don't want to have nothing to show three years down the line, neither do the rest of the lads.

'There are players here who want to win something before it's too late for them, and others who are keen to make our mark in the game, so it's a good mix.

'We're in this competition to win it. There's no substitute for being in the Champions League, but if we could emulate what Liverpool did last season and win the UEFA Cup, then nobody would be happier than us.

'We know that there's a lot of hard graft to come, and we never take anything for granted - those people who accused us of complacency when we lost in the first round at Maritimo were well wide of the mark.

'Trophies won't just fall at our feet, but Seth's arrival will be welcomed with open arms. It shows clearly that this club is only going one way, and that's upwards.'

Head coach Brian Kidd, who nurtured Manchester United's brilliant young squad of the Nineties, said: 'These lads haven't won anything yet but it's not for the want of desire. You have to order Rio off the training pitch, he's so keen to stay on afterwards and learn.'

Harry Kewell's match fitness is in doubt after he turned an ankle, but the Australian took part in a light training session yesterday.

Kidd said: 'We might err on the side of caution if he has a reaction to the injury.' Troyes, who have clambered from nowhere in to challenge France's top clubs in the space of five years, are viewed as a latter-day Wimbledon, and Kidd has taken to heart warnings from Bobby Robson after the upstarts beat Newcastle in the InterToto Cup to qualify.

Kidd said: 'Troyes have a good work ethic, but so do we. We certainly won't underestimate them.'

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