Winger Joseph Hungbo aims to entertain Ross County fans this season and step from the Scottish Premiership back to England’s top-flight in 2022.
The 21-year-old joined the Staggies this week on a season-long loan after agreeing terms at parent club Watford, which keeps him there until 2024.
Last season, after a loan stint at Aldershot, the flair player played five times for the Hornets in the English Championship and even stepped off the bench in a 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester United.
When the call came from Malky Mackay in Dingwall, south-London lad Hungbo didn’t hesitate in agreeing to a switch to the north of Scotland and could even debut against champions Rangers tomorrow.
He said: “When I heard the news, I couldn’t turn it down because it was the Scottish Premiership. It is a new challenge for me and I am looking to embrace it.
“I am just looking forward to getting started. We have Rangers at the weekend and I have just been working hard and preparing for that. I want to give the fans what they want by putting on a bit of a show.
“I am here to play and perform and show people what I can do. It is a good place to play for the exposure of the players and the club.
“I definitely feel I can add to what is going on here and we can see where it takes you.”
Parents key to his rise in football
While he clearly has confidence in spades, Hungbo is humble too and is quick to point towards parents Rachel and Samuel.
He added: “My parents, in terms of how hard they worked for me to be there, are my biggest influences.
“I look at them and certain people in my family and I just gravitate to them so much.
“When I saw them working when I was younger it has given me the hunger and desire to re-enact that and to give them back what they have given me.
“Coming from the family I have, it can be difficult, but as long as you have that mentality then you will get where you want to get to.”
Kane great example for loan players
His loan stint at Aldershot was short last year, barely lasting more than a month before he returned to Watford and impressed them enough to secure a future there.
He looks to England’s leading striker Harry Kane and how it took him several loan moves before he found the route to the top.
Hungbo added: “I definitely feel like Aldershot was a road check in my career. I thought I would go there and do what I needed to do, but sometimes loans don’t work out the way you want.
“Harry Kane went to five loans, including Norwich and Orient where it didn’t work out, and look at him now. He is England’s best striker.
“I feel everything has a purpose and Aldershot played a real part in my development. Even if I didn’t think that at the time, but now looking at the bigger picture it definitely helped.”
Mackay’s plan fits for Hungbo
And the lure of working under former Watford manager Mackay for a year was a major selling point to the confident play-maker.
He said: “Malky Mackay – everybody knows about him and that he has a top resume.
“He is a top manager who has worked with so many top players who have gone on to do amazing things in their career.
“When I spoke to him, I thought you don’t need to say anymore because I am coming up here. I feel like the plan he has and the philosophy he has suits me to a tee.”
