Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston has taken many aback with his form since joining English Championship side West Bromwich Albion at the beginning of February.
The winger has been electric South of the border, standing out with his performances that have surprised many Hoops fans.
In 10 appearances for the Baggies, the 24-year-old has scored six times and assisted once, finally showing the talent many know he possesses.
At Celtic, he displayed in flashes what he could do. His lack of consistency widely frustrated supporters.
Few were disappointed to see him leave towards the end of the winter window, but his outstanding displays have left many thinking how he could have impacted the title race.
Manager Brendan Rodgers, though, believes that the pressures of playing for West Brom compared to Celtic ensure that Johnston’s form there is much more consistent and bright than what it is for The Bhoys.
Indeed, the gaffer made a claim about the worth of the jersey the winger now wears, but he did praise the Irishman: “Listen, the shirt is a different weight of shirt when you leave here”, he said (Glasgow Times).
“But Mikey has always shown the talent.
“He has had a number of years where he has picked up lots of injuries and he needed to get a run of games. I spoke to him in the summer when he was looking to go on loan, and I said stay and get your training right, because you’ve not had a period of training consistently never mind playing games.
“He was able to do that, then he featured in some games for us, and once he trained and featured it was then about getting him game time. He has gone and done fantastic and shown the talent everyone knows he has.
“Hopefully he continues with that and then we can look at it again in the summer.”
One wonders whether gaffer Rodgers will look to give Johnston yet another opportunity when he returns from his loan. The majority of fans feel as though the attacker has run his course in a green and white jersey.
His form, however, has thrown a spanner into the works but next to no one would begrudge Celtic letting the academy graduate go permanently in the summer for the right money.
