According to reports from Daily Star, convicted footballer Adam Johnson revealed to a friend that only regular visits from one year old daughter Ayla will ‘keep him going’ while he is in prison.

He even reportedly begged his ex-girlfriend Stacey Flaunders to bring Ayla to Armley Prison in Leeds, West Yorks, after being sentenced to six years for child s€x offences.

The former Sunderland footballer who was earning about £50k per week was found guilty of grooming and s€xual activity with a 15-year-old which led to his conviction but prison officials have now placed Johnson on suicide watch after claiming seeing his daughter is the ‘only way’ he’ll survive while in prison.

A guard will now check Johnson every 15 minutes while he is in prison and officials have ensured he has no access to any sharp or hamful object.

A friend told the Daily Star: “Even before he went inside he had begged Stacey that he wants to see her. “He has now called her and said he needs a visit and to see his daughter because of the grimness of prison life.

“He told her it’s the only way he’ll be able to survive the sentence and will give him hope during his appeal.” This comes as Johnson’s sister Faye revealed he will be appealing his conviction and sentence.

Writing on her Facebook campaign page, she said: “Appeal Against Conviction lodged! Appeal Against Sentence is imminent this week!” His ex-girlfriend Stacey Flounders previously posted a photo on Instagram with the message: “I feel like I’ve lost my best friend.” She wrote: “I’m not even mad anymore at what happened in the past, I’m sad that it feels like I have lost my best friend.”