Few anticipated Mikey Johnston to depart Celtic for West Brom on loan and prosper in the manner he has.
The winger has hit the ground running in the Midlands, scoring seven goals and assisting another in 15 appearances for the Baggies. His eye-catching exploits saw him named the English Championship’s Player of the Month for March.
As we enter the closing stages of the season, Johnston’s loan team remain in the hunt for promotion to the English Premier League. Despite losing 1-0 to Sunderland at the weekend, West Brom are still seven points clear in a play-off place with three games to go.
Pundit Tam McManus believes that if the Hawthorns side go up, Celtic can demand a sizeable fee for the Ireland international. He said: [PLZ Soccer] “I think he (Johnston) went down there an unknown quantity, goes down there and he’s been brilliant for West Brom.
“West Brom are in the play-offs, if they go the Premier League, they might pay ten million for him.
“If West Brom get promoted and he’s flying, Celtic will demand a big fee for him.”
Although the overall consensus seems to be that Johnston will be sold at the end of his loan, manager Brendan Rodgers did throw the attacker a lifeline last week.
The gaffer outlined his hopes that the 24-year-old can come back to Glasgow in the summer re-energised and ready to make an impact.
Some fans will disagree with such an assessment, but Rodgers will have the final say over Johnston’s future.
