EVERY player has their footballing heroes, but Wanderers midfielder Paris Maghoma didn’t have to look far for inspiration.

His older brother, Jacques Maghoma, had spells with the likes of Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday and Burton, racking up nearly 400 appearances.

Jacques, also a midfielder, represented DR Congo on the international stage before hanging up his boots 12 months ago.

Seeing his brother make a name for himself in the professional game gave Paris belief he could one day achieve the same feat.

“Growing up, my oldest brother Jacques has always been my footballing idol,” said the Brentford prospect.

“He was the first Maghoma to become a professional footballer, he played for some big clubs in the Championships and played for our country.”

Christian Maghoma, the brother of Paris and Jacques, is also involved in the game. The defender joined National League outfit Aldershot over the summer following a spell at Eastleigh.

“We do have a footballing family,” the Bolton midfielder smiled.

All three brothers have spent time in Tottenham Hotspur‘s youth ranks. Paris made the move to Brentford in January 2020 and witnessed the club’s promotion to the Premier League the following season.

The Bees have continued to progress in the top flight, finishing ninth under Thomas Frank last season and beating the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea along the way.

Maghoma has already trained with the first-team squad at Brentford and learnt lots from the experience.

“Seeing the boys, there are some top players there,” he said. “I got some advice from them.

“When I was about to go on loan, they told me there will be periods when it is going to be tough but to try to learn as much as I can.”

The 22-year-old has ambitions of one day breaking into the Brentford side and is determined to make the most of his opportunities at Wanderers.

Maghoma believes there are plenty of similarities in the clubs’ styles of play and is keen to keep learning both on and off the pitch.

“Here, we love to play football,” he explained. “We will always try to play out and find solutions to beat the opposition.

“It is the same at Brentford really. They are a team that likes having possession and building through the thirds.”

Moving to the North West was a big change for the youngster, but it didn’t take long to settle in at Bolton.

“As soon as I came in, I felt extremely comfortable,” he continued. “Where I have been before, sometimes it can be a bit shaky at the start.

“But as soon as I came here, the boys and the staff were perfect. I made friends straight away and got on with everyone. I had no problem settling in.”

A laid-back figure, Maghoma is relishing the challenge ahead of Wanderers look to keep building momentum in the winter months.

Like many players, he tends to switch off from football and focus on other hobbies once he has stepped off the field.

“I am pretty chilled. In my spare time, I will probably be on my PlayStation or chilling with my family,” he smiled.

“Being up here, it is a bit harder to see family now. But the team is like a family, we stick together. They welcomed me here and allowed me to be myself, so I am thankful for that.”