Jailed paedophile Adam Johnson 'boasts to fellow inmates that he could be back playing in the Premier League as early as next year'

• e-mail

Disgraced Adam Johnson has reportedly claimed he could be back playing football as early as next year

Jailed footballer Adam Johnson has reportedly bragged to fellow inmates he could be back playing professional football next year.

The disgraced former England star is currently locked up at HMP Moorland, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, for child sex offences.

Johnson, 30, is said to have received a new Sunderland strip for Christmas and wore it for a match on New Year's Day where he scored the winner in a match with other prisoners.

He could be released within the next 18 months and a source told the Daily Star on Sunday Johnson believes he could be match fit within six months of getting out.

They told the paper that Johnson, who earned £60,000-a-week while playing for Sunderland, was in his element on the pitch and boasted after the game had finished.

They said: 'Afterwards he was telling everyone that he was still good enough to play professional football and he certainly looked the part.

Johnson, pictured left playing for Sunderland and right, outside court during his trial for child sexual offences, will be eligible for parole in Marsh 2019

'He also said that Sunderland were now struggling so badly that they would be desperate for a player of his quality.

'Even though he will be in his 30s by the time he gets out, he still thinks he'll be fit enough.'

The source said Johnson even claimed the time spent behind bars meant he could continue playing for longer because his body would not have suffered so many injuries.  

Johnson was jailed for six years in March 2016 for child sex offences.

Johnson is currently serving a six-year sentence at HMP Moorland near Doncaster, South Yorkshire

He could be entitled to parole in March 2019 and if any club would have him back he could resume his career in professional football.  

Sentencing Johnson, Judge Jonathan Rose told him he had abused a position of trust and caused his victim 'severe psychological harm'.

A Government spokesman said they do not comment on individual cases.