Returning Celtic star Mikey Johnston has credited new Head of Sports Science Anton McElhone for playing a big role in his return from injury.
Johnston had been out since pre-season with a hamstring tear in what was a huge blow to his early-season aspirations under Ange Postecoglou. He’s had to watch on as Jota has become the name on everyone’s lips down the left-wing.
Now, however, Mikey is back and looking as sharp as ever. He’s impressed supporters hugely in recent cameo appearances against Ferencvaros and St Johnstone respectively. And it looks as though he’ll have as good a chance as anyone of making a big impression in the coming weeks.
Mikey has moved to thank McElhone for the role he played in his recovery, especially after being at such a low ebb in pre-season.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, Mikey said: “It was a very low time for me. Obviously, a lot of people don’t know what goes on in the background. They’ll think I’m lazy and not a professional. But I try to do everything to try and get myself right to play for the club.
“Thankfully, it’s starting to pay off now and hopefully people will see that. Obviously, being a Celtic fan, if supporters don’t like you then it can get to you a bit. But, it doesn’t matter too much because the manager’s the one who picks the team and I’m back from injury and he’s putting me on.
“I’m feeling good. The new sports scientist has come in and helped me a lot. I’ve needed a bit more time to get myself back up to speed and also to make sure I don’t pick up any more injuries. The international week kind of came at a good time for me. I was able to get a lot of good fitness work in. I was able to put in some strength work that I wouldn’t necessarily just get from training.”
Anton McElhone already making his presence felt at Celtic Park
McElhone arrived at Parkhead during a period of real injury woe for the club. Celtic had racked up knock after knock, and it had a damaging effect on both momentum and results. You could say it stalled the progress at Parkhead for a good month.
It’s no surprise then that we didn’t have a sports science head currently at the club. An individual who specialises on player conditioning and ensure that injuries are kept to a minimum.
If McElhone hadn’t arrived for example, Johnston may still have been sidelined. You can’t undermine the effect a knowledgeable, informed sports scientist can bring to a football club. There’s a reason it’s such a key role in the modern football club.
Of course, his job isn’t to make sure no player gets injured. Injuries will always happen to every player at some stage in their career. But it’s about ensuring they’re at a level of condition that minimises risk and that they recover as quickly as possible when they do pick up a knock.
It’s no real coincidence that Celtic have a lot of their big players back with no fresh concerns since McElhone’s return. Much of that will likely be down to the effect he’s having on the football club.
Here’s hoping that positive impact can continue as we head deeper into the season with more rigorous schedules to come.
In other news, Anthony Ralston contract talks get a big thumbs up from the Celtic support
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