‘I met him’: Pundit claims Celtic 24-year-old has to move on from the club

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Stephen McGinn thinks it’s time for Mikey Johnston to move on from Celtic in order to progress his career and earn regular starts.

Even though the 24-year-old is yet to play a single minute under Brendan Rodgers for Celtic this season, he had one of his best weeks in a very long time.

The Celtic star scored for the Republic of Ireland on Monday, in what was his first start, as Stephen Kenny’s side thrashed Gibraltar in their Euro 2024 qualifier.

Either way, it was a much-needed goal and performance from Mikey Johnston, who picked up the Man of the Match award – Shay Given lauded him after the game.

Understandably so, talk then turned to his situation at Celtic and trying to break into a team that hasn’t been beaten this season in the league.

Stephen McGinn is of the opinion that he can’t see things turning around for the winger at Parkhead, therefore, it’s best that he moved on, as he told Go Radio. 

Mikey Johnston’s Celtic future

“I honestly don’t,” said McGinn about Johnston earning starts at Celtic. “We have seen the turnaround of Liam Scales, a great example. Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor, these guys. 

“But I think Mikey Johnston is at that stage where he is playing for Ireland. He has had that loan out in Portugal.

“I met him a couple of times. He is a great lad. He showed great potential, at times, especially in Brendan Rodgers’ first spell. I think mixed through injuries. I just can’t see the opportunity will come, there are that many options.”

There is still a chance…

You get handed a start for your country, you get on the scoresheet and pick up the Man of the Match award, you can’t ask for more.

In that regard, he has done his job, it’s now a case of putting previous injury issues behind him and trying to get on the pitch.

This isn’t a case of Johnston being handed a chance and not taking it, those minutes just aren’t there for him at club level.

New boy Luis Palma seems to be ahead of him in the pecking order now, and whilst the summer signing doesn’t have the pace to burst past players, you can see that added quality on the ball.

As mentioned before, someone like Liam Scales just needs to be looked at and how he turned things around. That’s a road Johnston can, no doubt, follow suit.