Mikey Johnston has spoken about playing his best stuff at West Brom and having the backing of their supporters.
The winger has been in outstanding form since his loan move to The Championship side on Deadline Day, scoring six goals and keeping West Brom firmly in contention for a Play Off place.
During the last few years at Celtic most of the commentary surrounding Johnston has been about maintaining fitness and battling for a place in the team with a multitude of wingers ranging from Maryan Shved and Jonny through to Jota and Liel Abada since he made his debut in May 2017.
Last season Johnston made a little progress on loan to Vitoria Guimaraes but speaking to Birmingham Live he couldn’t have sounded more confident and enthusiastic about the way his career has taken off in the Midlands:
For the second goal at Huddersfield, I’m just flowing and I’m not thinking about anything – things are just happening for me without me having to do anything about it.
When you’re playing your best stuff is when you’re not thinking too much into it and you’re just doing it. When you’re in the flow, your confidence just comes out in your play and that’s where I want to continue being.
I’ve always had the trust in my ability but a lot of the time my body was breaking down, I wasn’t ready, strong, but I feel like I’ve got into a great rhythm now where I trust everything.
Trust myself, my body, ability, fitness, tactical knowledge, so everything’s falling into place and it’s the right time to have come to a place like Albion.
Tellingly he added:
I know this is a massive club and one that should be pushing for the play-offs in order to be in the Premier League. It has been what I’ve expected but in terms of the fans – they’ve been amazing. Right away they took to me and it helps everything when you feel that support behind you and it makes things easier for you as a player.
It looks like Celtic could have a big decision to make in the summer- whether to give Johnston another chance or whether to accept one of the offers likely to come in either from West Brom or another Championship side.
Sell. We’ve always known he has talent but playing for Celtic is hard work due to the expectation level. Better players than him have struggled to live with it. If he can go on to have a great career in England, earn himself life-changing money and net us a few bob in the process, its win-win.
He might want to rethink his interview approach though. What he’s said there can be summarised as “I don’t why I’m playing well, I just sometimes do” and “I’ve had loads of injuries, like hunners ay thum” neither of which is likely to cause an undecided club to take a chance on him……
Good for Mikey.
There was always a good player in there,
but it just wasn’t happening at Celtic – and after several opportunities.
Hs should have been advised to leave a couple of years ago…?
Maybe he’s now mature / confident enough to
realise he can fulfil his potential elsewhere?
Better to have played for Celtic, than never to have played at all! 🙂
He’ll do OK.
He is more worried about the lie of his golf ball on his daily round than he is about Celtic in Europe