Celtic have an array of talent in the wide areas.
Players like Jota, Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada and, to a lesser extent, Sead Haksabanovic have all played their part in tearing up the SPFL this season.
With a quartet of wingers fighting for a place in Ange’s side, that made young Mikey Johnston’s future at the club look bleak.
As injury blighted his opportunities in the first team, the 23-year-old was sent out on loan to Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes where he has impressed the manager, Moreno Teixeira.
His form also earned him a call-up to the Irish national side where he caught the eye of Didier Deschamps prior to Ireland’s meeting with France.
But it was Teixeira’s comments on the Hoops winger that caught my attention this afternoon where he detailed three key attributes that could offer Ange Postecoglou some food for thought when Johnston returns to Celtic in the summer.
As reported by The Herald, Teixeira said, “Mikey Johnston is a young player who is still learning and we knew he had room to improve.
“I was not mistaken: he has skill, speed and fits easily into any tactical system. He is growing in every way, becoming more and more useful for the team.
“He has three goals and three assists in 22 games played by Vitória SC, which is already a very good record for someone playing for the first time in the Portuguese Liga, one of the most competitive in Europe.
“We have excellent options for the wings and he deserved the opportunities he had, being a very competitive and professional both in training and in games.
“Naturally he should improve some aspects and he knows what they are, but I am not at all surprised by his call to the Republic of Ireland.
“He is a valuable winger, he has evolved a lot and, therefore, I believe he will have another status when he returns to Celtic at the end of the season.”
Skill, speed and versatility. Three major components that have served the current wingers well at Celtic.
Does Mikey Johnston have a future at Celtic?
In my opinion, it’s unlikely. Looking at who he would need to dislodge from the side just to get on the bench, never mind game time, I would say time could be up for the youngster.
However, you can never say never. Look at the transformation of Tony Ralston under Ange.
And if Mikey can find some new-found confidence from his international experiences as Aaron Mooy and Daizen Maeda have done, anything is possible.
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