Barry Ferguson has heaped praise on Mikey Johnston and the impact he has had on Celtic in recent weeks.
The 24-year-old is yet to start a game under Brendan Rodgers this season, but he is still managing to make himself known.
Further proof of that was showcased when Celtic came from behind to beat St Johnstone 3-1 on Sunday – Chris Sutton loved Mikey Johnston’s display from the bench.
Barry Ferguson thinks it’s a bit of a ‘wake-up call’ for Mikey Johnston and proving he can put in such performances on a ‘regular basis’ for the team, as he told Go Radio.
Well, the games are now coming thick and fast for Celtic, including against in-form Hibernian at Parkhead tonight.
Some are backing Mikey Johnston to start, but with a trip to Kilmarnock on Sunday and then the final group game of the Champions League next week, you would assume that the Republic of Ireland star will get some serious minutes under his belt during that period.
Mikey Johnston’s performances for Celtic
“Celtic were a different team in the second half,” said Ferguson about the display in Perth. “You could see, they were a lot sharper. A lot more determined.
“The change made a difference as well. Bringing Yang off and putting Mikey Johnston in.
“Maybe that’s a wake-up call for Mikey Johnston now. He needs to go and show that he can do that on a regular basis.
“He has now come in, it looked to me like he was going to be out of the door, but he has been given an opportunity in the last few weeks, and certainly in the second half, he showed his qualities. Playing on the right, then he moved to the left-hand side as well.”
Big December period for Celtic
There have been a lot of outside noises of late, mainly to do with transfers and that will only increase with January around the corner.
But there is a lot of talking to do on the field of play, with the chance for the Bhoys to really put daylight between Rangers.
The gap at the top is eight points, with Rangers having a game in hand. Assume they win that, but still lose at Parkhead on December 30, then the gap is still the same with all games equal.
That puts the team in a seriously strong position going into the New Year and the chance to put another title in the cabinet.
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