Chris Sutton believes that the timing might be right for the player he describes as the forgotten man of Celtic.
With four wingers being used in every match and James Forrest as back up there seemed to be no room at the Inn for Mikey Johnston as Ange Postecoglou put his stamp on the club.
Liel Abada was the first big signing, Jota arrived later on loan, Daizen Maeda last January then Sead Haksabanovic during the summer 2022 window that saw Johnston move out on loan to Vitoria Guimaraes despite speculation over interest from Hibs and Aberdeen.
Johnston’s ability has never been in doubt but at the age of 23 he has never had a sustained spell of regular first team football with injuries one factor in that position.
Latvia aren’t international heavyweights but in the week in which there as been speculation that Abada could be leaving Celtic Johnston performed the Abada role perfectly on his international debut.
In May 2017 Johnston and Tony Ralston made their first team debuts together against St Johnston under Brendan Rodgers.
A lot has changed since then but in the Daily Record Sutton believes that the two players could both be involved in next season’s Celtic side.
Discussing Johnston, Sutton explained:
The only think he lacked at Celtic is a consistent run of games without being wrecked by injuries. I got the feeling fans were getting a little impatient with him, but only because they know he’s got talent.
I’ve said on these pages before I like the player as he can change games. I think he’s got something. He seems to have been around forever but at 23 years-old, he really needs to get his career up and running.
He should see returning as a massive opportunity for him, playing for a manager who loves his wingers and could get his game to the next level. Perhaps this loan spell will do the job.
Celtic have moved on in the last 18 months when he was out injured or in Portugal and it’s hard to see where he would fit in when Ange Postecoglou has so many dangerous wide men. The likes of Jota, Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada, Sead Haksabanovic and James Forrest, have all played a part.
Sutton added:
Postecoglou has previous for salvage missions. Just look at Anthony Ralston. When the manager came in, he was so far out in the cold he needed a team of huskies to get back in.
Ralston had been out for a couple of loan spells and no one would have been shocked if he moved on in the summer of 2021. Postecoglou kept him around because he was short of bodies in that area of the team but the player grabbed his chance with both hands.
Johnston returns to Celtic in May, pre-season could be make or break for his Celtic hopes.
Mikey Johnston has undoubted talent but hasn’t had a great deal of opportunities to prove himself worthy of a Celtic jersey. At 23 years old it is time for him the step up to the plate and showcase that talent, by all accounts he is doing well in Portugal and that is down to him getting more opportunities in the first team and at international level with Ireland he has hit the ground running! With James Forrest not getting any younger and opportunities for him becoming less and less this coming preseason could be huge for Mikey, he has to grab his chance with both hands. He should use his time in Portugal to develop further so he can comeback ready and raring to go!
Mikey is an exciting talent and I for one hope he does make the most of the coming months leading up to preseason. Good Luck to him. Hail Hail Mikey!