Celtic winger reveals that he had been playing with stress fracture of his back

Mikey Johnston has revealed that he finished last season playing with a stress fracture of his back.

The winger has yet to play for Celtic this season but is in the Ireland squad following a season on loan at Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal.

Johnston took part in Celtic’s early pre-season work but missed out on the matches in Portugal and Japan after his injury was uncovered- while Marco Tilio, Yang Hyun-jun and Luis Palma were signed up.

International football could provide the 24-year-old with a route back into the Celtic side with the winger explaining his injury issues to the Irish Independent:

I must have it had it the last ten games of the season, my back was feeling a bit sore, we scanned it at the end of the year and we found a stress fracture. I think you’re better safe than sorry with them, take a couple of months out and get it right instead of making it worse.

I’ve just been back over a month, getting my fitness, there is only so much you can get from training so it was amazing to get out here and I didn’t expect to start but the gaffer [Stephen Kenny] has put a lot of trust in me and my characteristics for this game, and it worked.

It was a good performance, these places can be tougher to come than what you’d expect. You have to treat them with respect and after the defeat the other day you have to get a result.

I am just working my way behind the scenes to try and get my opportunity, the manager [Rodgers[ has got tough decisions to make, he’s got wingers he’s brought in for a few million and it’s up to me to get into the team.

I’d imagine he’d take a bit of interest. He texted me before the game, so I think he’s keeping tabs on it. I know what I have to do to get into the [Celtic] team and obviously he’s got decisions to make, but ultimately it’s up to me.

Johnston will return to Scotland today knowing that three demanding games in seven days could create an opening for him at club level.

Hearts and Hibs away either side of a Champions League match at home to Atletico Madrid presents Rodgers with his toughest week since returning to Celtic with one almost forgotten winger demonstrating that he is over his injury problems.