Mikey Johnston explains the real reason behind why he left Celtic on loan.
Mikey Johnston, who completed a loan move to West Bromwich Albion on deadline day, has had a good start to life south of the border, which will please Celtic supporters.
The Republic of Ireland international, who has scored three goals in his first seven Sky Bet Championship games [Transfermarkt], has quickly won over fans at the Hawthorns.
The 24-year-old was a rotational squad member under Brendan Rodgers prior to heading to the West Midlands, with two goals and a few assists in 12 appearances around 2023/24.
In a late-year interview, Irishman Rodgers recognized the raw talent of Johnston, but he also asserted that the Lennoxtown product needed to solidify his “robustness” in order to establish himself as a regular player at Parkhead.
Whether it’s because of a change of scenery or something else entirely, Johnston has been receiving great reviews at West Brom. Former England player Carlton Palmer is one of the people who has been pleased by his ability to drive at opponent backlines.
Palmer said last month: “He’s been absolutely brilliant at West Brom, so I’m sure they’ll be looking at whether they could bring Mikey into the football club (permanently) depending on which division West Brom are in next season.”
Mikey Johnston discusses his reasons for leaving Celtic.
Johnston has already talked about his reasons for leaving Celtic to sign a loan with West Brom, saying that Rodgers might have still given him a role at Parkhead in the second half of the season.
The Irishman has now provided additional insight into the circumstances surrounding his relocation to the south, suggesting that his desire to play regular first-team football motivated him to leave his childhood club.
Johnston hasn’t been able to secure a starting position at Parkhead for whatever reason, but he still possesses a number of traits that make him a challenging player to manage on the wing.
In the future, it will be hoped that he can build on his stellar start at the Hawthorns before summertime talks about his future take shape.
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