We need to talk about Mikey Johnston, who was terrific in Wednesday night’s preseason friendly.
Mikey Johnston’s performance against Queens Park certainly threw a spotlight on his capabilities and the difficult career at Celtic so far.
Despite the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over his future with the club, Johnston demonstrated why he still might be a valuable asset, especially if he can consistently harness the form he showed on loan at West Brom and during this thrilling preseason encounter.
Johnston’s ability to trouble defenders with his dribbling and pace is exactly the kind of threat Celtic can benefit from on the wings. His direct play and willingness to take on defenders could provide the team with another dimension in attack, something that has been sporadically seen from him due to injuries and inconsistent selections.
Whether this uptick in preseason form can translate into regular competitive performances remains to be seen.
Celtic might still decide to move him on if they feel he doesn’t fit into Brendan Rodgers’ plans, but performances like tonight’s make that decision all the more complicated.
He also faces the challenge of Daizen Maeda. He has that position tied down, and Johnston isn’t effective at all on the other flank. But a squad player is all he ever would be at Celtic, in all honesty.
Johnston has some big decisions to make with the club this summer.
