Stephen O’Donnell urges Celtic to ‘cash in’ on player who was ‘incredible’ out on loan last season

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As well as adding new players to his Celtic team, Brendan Rodgers also needs to address the balance of the squad by moving on players who are surplus to requirements.

Last summer’s transfer business meant that there could be as many as six or seven players from that batch who need to find new clubs as the likes of Marco Tilio, Hyeokkyu Kwon and Gustaf Lagerbielke all struggled to make the Celtic breakthrough.

However, there are others at Parkhead prior to Brendan Rodgers’ arrival who have continued to struggle at the club for a number of years.

And now, Celtic have been told to cash in on one after impressing whilst out on loan.

Celtic told to sell Mikey Johnston after impressive West Brom spell

Mikey Johnston is a player who has always been in and around the periphery of the matchday squad.

Handed his first-team debut by Brendan Rodgers back in 2017, the Republic of Ireland winger has struggled to stake a regular claim in the Celtic first team.

And after his impressive season-long loan at West Brom, Stephen O’Donnell reckons it’s time for Celtic to cash in on the 25-year-old.

O’Donnell said [Superscoreboard], “I think what needs to happen there is Mikey Johnston, again, Brendan Rodgers is the person who needs to dictate these things.

“Because he’s got control and if he thinks there’s a future there for him.

“By all accounts, he was meant to have been incredible down at West Brom because I’ve seen some of his clips and he’s always been capable.

“I played against him a few times and he’s got real good feet, a real direct winger but if the manager doesn’t think he’s in his plans, he may as well take the money because he may as well cash in now.”

Since 2017, Johnston has made just 92 appearances for Celtic. To put that into perspective, in one season at Vitoria Guimaraes and another at West Brom, the winger has made a collective 51 first-team outings between both clubs. [Transfermarkt]

That tells you that although Johnston has talent, he is maybe better off showcasing it at clubs that do not have the intense pressure that playing for a club like Celtic does.

Whilst I would love to see Johnston make it at Celtic, it is now over seven years since his debut and he hasn’t reached the 100 first-team appearances mark yet.

I hope that for the good of the player, and for Celtic, he is moved on and can progress his career at another club.