West Brom are ideal transfer solution for Celtic talent Mikey Johnston

After carefully evaluating Mikey Johnston’s circumstances, returning manager Brendan Rodgers chose not to send the winger back out, even though he had just recently brought him back into the Celtic fold following his initial stint away from Parkhead. Johnston has recently arrived back from his previous season as a player for Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal. But in Paradise, the competition is even more intense.

West Bromwich Albion linked Johnston, Glasgow born but who represents the Republic of Ireland through his grandfather, wasn’t in a position to give his campaign lift-off until November time after suffering a back injury in the summer which set him back – by the time he was available for selection again, Johnston was well down the pecking order. He has started only three league games this term, but his only two goals arrived in the space of an 11-minute cameo at Dundee.

Rodgers was especially underwhelmed with Johnston’s showing in a Celtic win over Hibernian in December and indicated that he needed to see a higher level of performance from the winger if he intended to push for more regular first team football in a green and white shirt. What is beyond any doubt, though, is how Rodgers rates Johnston – clearly, consistency is desired.

“The reason Mikey is still here is because I rate him as a player,” Rodgers said last month. “I could’ve easily put him out on loan in the summer having not featured so much last year, but I know his talent and I want to do everything I possibly can to maximise that talent. He’s made great strides in his training performance, just in terms of consistency and being available.

People are drawn to novelty, even new signings. Still, all I’m trying to do is show everyone that I can play here. People have probably been saying that I’ve been here for this long, and while I may not have demonstrated it, I believe that I have on occasion. It’s quite difficult to win folks over. I’m under pressure to reach my full potential, and I’m doing my best to do so.

“I went out on loan to a league in Portugal when I wanted to be here. I’m trying to take every step I can to fulfil my potential. It’s not as though I am not trying. I don’t think there is ever a comfort blanket at a club like Celtic. There is pressure here every single minute. When I went away on loan there was less pressure, but I learned a lot during that year.

“I did play for a squad that expected a lot of me and put a lot of pressure on us. Living away from home in a foreign country where the language is not your first is difficult, but you grow up quickly, and I did always harbor the desire to return.”

The connections between Johnston and Albion are intriguing, given that the January transfer window is almost over. Carlos Corberan has added Callum Marshall and Andi Weimann to bolster his limited attacking options after losing Matt Phillips and Adam Reach to injury, but he is reportedly still interested in a winger. Jeremy Sarmiento’s loan was terminated.

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