Mikey Johnston had found himself looking in at Celtic from the outside in recent seasons. Injury has blighted his ability to impress Ange Postecoglou last season so it was decided that he should find first-team football elsewhere in the form of a loan.
He seems to have found a new lease of life in Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes and has appeared twenty-two times for the Portuguese side and has scored three goals and created three assists [Transfermarkt].
Whilst the newly inducted Republic of Ireland international enjoys the adulation of the Irish press after his substitute appearance against Latvia, the 23-year-old winger will be hoping that he has done enough to earn a starting place in tonight’s next fixture against France.
The Irish go into this fixture with indifferent form compared to the French who will be buoyed after their 4-0 drubbing of Holland over the weekend, Les Blues manager Didier Deschamps has namechecked Johnston as one to watch.
As reported by Football Scotland, the 54-year-old former World Cup winner said, “There is a new generation with new players, Evan Ferguson poses a threat – he is a good player, Mikey Johnston as well has joined the team, it is a mix of young and experience. But our team is different too.
“Ireland are known for being direct and vertical in how they play but of what I’ve seen in recent games they are capable of playing the ball along the ground as well.”
Young Johnston has found it difficult to break into the Celtic first team due to ongoing injury issues he has had at the club.
With his loan due to terminate at the end of the season, Johnston still has three years left on his contract and plenty of time to try and force his way into Ange Postecoglou’s plans.
With Daizen Maeda, Sead Haksabanovic and Jota all ahead of him in the pecking order, he may well find his work cut out to do just that but with renewed confidence in his ability, who knows what may happen.
Just look at Anthony Ralston.
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