After years of a stop-start-stop career Brendan Rodgers believes that Mikey Johnston is finally ready to realise his potential.
The winger was the great hope of the Celtic Academy as he came through the ranks, sharing a similar skill-set to Aiden McGeady with incredible natural skills.
Rodgers gave Johnston his debut at the tail end of Celtic’s Invincible season but progress has been patchy with injuries never far away.
Johnston spent last season on loan at Vitoria Guimaraes, no trees were pulled up but he was injury free when returned to Celtic.
In pre-season a fresh injury probably prevented him from going out on loan, Marco Tilio and Yang Hyun-Jun were added to the squad but at St Johnstone on Saturday, Johnston, now a full internationalist, made a significant impact as Celtic turned a half-time deficit into a victory.
Discussing Johnston’s prospects, Rodgers told the Daily Mail:
He looks more robust in his body now. He can beat a man, but football’s more than that. You have to be able to press the game, you have to be able to be synchronised with your team.
Certainly, what he’s done, he’s shown that he can come into a game and make a great impact. I thought his impact was transformative for the team.
Hopefully now he can show that he’s able to participate in the game and if he can do that, then he can have a really bright next decade.
With eight matches to go before the winter break there should be ample opportunities for Johnston to impress with a starting slot likely on Wednesday night when Hibs visit Celtic Park.
