Mikey Johnston

I think Johnston’s a good player but his body’s *

 

Packie Bonner has spilled the beans on a conversation he had with Celtic winger Mikey Johnston whilst over in Ireland concerning Brendan Rodgers' return to the club.

The former Liverpool and Leicester City boss handed Johnston his Hoops debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2017 and he went on to impress the Parkhead faithful with a number of eye-catching performances. The 24-year-old did face numerous injury setbacks however and he failed to keep the flame alive in Glasgow.



Game time came hard to come by for Johnston and when Ange Postecoglou came along as boss, Johnston was firmly behind the likes of Jota and Liel Abada in the Celtic pecking order.


As such, he was sent out on loan to Vitoria Guimaraes last summer and performed well, even admitted himself that it was great experience for him and was certainly a beneficial move.


And now, with Rodgers back at the Celtic helm, it could herald a new beginning for Johnston in the east end of Glasgow. And that view was put across by former Hoops stopper Packie Bonner on BBC Sportsound, who revealed that he spoke to Johnston about Rodgers' return to the club.


Bonner said: "I think it (Rodgers' appointment) also gives a wee bit of light to a few of the ones that have been on the edge of the squad. I was talking to Mikey Johnston over in Ireland, he's probably come back - I don't know if he's moved on again.


But he said 'oh I'm delighted Brendan's came in because he likes me', you know what I mean?


So there might be one or two there now thinking they can resurrect themselves within the squad, you know, players who haven't quite been in the game. So that's an interesting one."

 

The talents there IMHO its just can he stay fit. If he can stay fit given the number of games we play each year he can fit in well into the squad depth we need to handle that load of games.

 

He's just gone the full year on loan without any injury problems, right? If Rodgers wants to run the rule over him this summer there's no harm in it, if he can stay fit he's got a lot of years ahead of him. Wouldn't expect him to start ahead of what we have now, and assuming we spend money on at least one good quality winger with Jota away, but if he puts his injury problems behind him he can contribute a bit as backup, especially with Forrest winding down and fitting the homegrown quota.

 

Aye he's due an injury

 

He’s looked very good in his games for Ireland so far. Made a real difference every time he was introduced, including against the French.

 

This thread about him coming back and getting a chance is giving me the fear.

 

Not been injured in well over a year.

 

Johnston's ship has sailed! Offload

 

He's back here now. I'll give it a month tops

 

Show pony against the weak, anonymous against anyone half decent.

 

Fair dos

 

IRELAND international Mikey Johnston will miss the start of the new Scottish season - and also Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifiers in September – with a back injury, a massive blow to the winger who had hoped to force his way into the plans at Parkhead after a successful loan spell in Scotland.

Johnston has a year left on his contract at Celtic and, on the back of that good spell on loan to Portuguese side Vitoria and the chance of a fresh start under new boss Brendan Rodgers, he had hoped for a strong season in the coming campaign.

Irish fans of the Bhoys had hoped to see Johnston in action in Ireland later this month as the side play Wolves in a friendly, a fixture moved to Dublin from its original venue in South Korea. But speaking today, boss Rodgers revealed that a back problem would sideline Johnston for some time.

"Sadly for Mikey he is going to be out for a few more months," Rodgers said. "He had an issue with his back, sadly, so he’ll probably be out for near-on three months."

Johnston had a strong finish to last season, scoring his first international goal in the win over Gibraltar and while his club future was uncertain, he was due to feature for Stephen Kennys side in the qualifiers against France and Holland. Rodgers said he had been ready to assess Johnston's claims before the injury arose.

"His job is to convince myself and the coaches that he is ready for a place," he said. "It’s the players’ responsibility and they have to show the quality and consistency and robustness in order to play and that is the job of every player."

 

Has an injury-free season in Portugal, comes back and gets immediately injured.

Think that confirms the end of his time here now. We can't have a player with such an unreliable injury record, regardless of how good or bad he is.

 

* * bang goes any chance of a fee for him too poor * has no luck

 

Ah ffs. I always root for him to do well but I can’t deny anymore that he is just not what we need now. Good player on his day but never fit. I’d love for him to get these injuries behind him but doesn’t look like it’s gonna happen. Feel awful for him in fairness

 

Colour me shocked.

 

Boys cursed, get away from the club for your own good Mikey, to a nice warm and dry climate for your health

 

Called it. Get this * wage thief to *