Celtic winger Mikey Johnston has explained the reason behind his January departure from the club. The Irish Internationalist joined West Bromwich Albion on a loan until the end of the season that was designed to get him game time.
After scoring his first goal in his third game for West Brom, Johnston opened up on the frustration of not getting enough game time at Celtic (as reported by The National) which prompted his exit.
“The Championship is a great place for someone’s career. I wasn’t getting the minutes I wanted at Celtic – I was playing but it was sporadic. Sometimes I’d play well and score and then wouldn’t play the next game – it was frustrating.
“It was important for me to get out of Celtic to be honest and when West Brom came up, it was a great opportunity. We want to make the play-offs, those are the big occasions I want to play in.
“The pressure at Celtic’s massive. I don’t think people realise how big the pressure is. It’s something I’ve been exposed to from a young age and it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to – I need the pressure to perform.
“It’s a massive challenge in a big, tough league – different to what I’ve experienced before – but I feel like I’ve got the tools to deal with it. It doesn’t feel like a step-down. It’s another massive club in a good league.”
In 92 appearances for Celtic, Johnston had scored 13 goals and assisted on 12 occasions. Frustrating is probably a word that will resonate with Celtic fans when discussing Johnston. Perhaps unfairly, the Irishman receives stick because he’s not really kicked on and he is a homegrown talent.
Hopefully the move is a success for Johnston and he can return to the Scottish Champions in a more competitive state. He is obviously a talented player but needs to be playing week in, week out to develop.
The lad is delusional, good riddance.