The redemption story to beat all redemption stories could be taking place at Celtic Park and it’s genesis will have been Sunday afternoon in Perth. For it was the divisive figure of Mikey Johnston who climbed off the bench to answer Celtic and Brendan Rodgers’ SOS when he helped spark our comeback against St Johnstone.
The Irishman has been rarely seen at Parkhead for some time and only had cameo appearances before we took on Craig Levein and his team last weekend. Barring an appearance at Easter Road against Hibs in the reversal of tonight’s fixture, the game in Rome against Lazio, it was only the Motherwell game lately and now St Johnstone were the winger has begun to have a meaningful impact for his club.
From tiny acorns and all that.
Now it’s his opportunity, with several injuries to key players in the wide-forward positions, to show Brendan Rodgers, his teammates and the supporters why he was so highly thought of by successive managers – including one from Portugal where he spent last year on a loan deal. It really is the last chance saloon for Mikey and if tonight goes well, he could put himself in a really strong position going forward into the future.
His second-half showing at McDiarmid Park was a real injection of life for the team and it gave us a lifeline. It sparked several other teammates into life too who had been lagging way behind their usual form and capabilities. Two of whom got themselves on the scoresheet during that comeback and without that, we could have been having a very difficult and awkward discussion about this season.
For his display, Mikey has been included in the SPFL Team of the Week.
Long may it continue…
🌟 @HibernianFC's David Marshall has been named as Star Man in the SPFL #TOTW!
Read more 👉 https://t.co/R7okAw9YLH#cinchSPFL | @cinchuk pic.twitter.com/ftlgWp8TFK
— SPFL (@spfl) December 6, 2023
💫 Mikey Johnston has been named in this week's @spfl @cinchuk #TOTW!#CelticFC🍀 https://t.co/vaEqOCJPlM pic.twitter.com/JzmlWk4jOo
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 6, 2023
Paul Gillespie
