“Something I need to improve on,” Mikey Johnston

“That final action is something I need to improve on to get my stats up for the team,” Mikey Johnston…

Mikey Johnston has admitted he needs to produce more effectively and more consistently for this Celtic team. The Irishman came off the bench on Boxing Day against Tony Docherty’s Dundee side and managed to grab a couple of goals in a late impact. The winger has been in and out of the side lately and the supporters received a welcome bonus when the player with so much potential bagged a brace.

Johnston’s Celtic career to date has been one of mixed fortunes; his successive injury record and inability to find stability and consistent form with his undoubted natural abilities has coincided with him being one who is circling the drain. It’s a real shame the way things have panned out for the academy graduate as both he and the club had high hopes that he could carry the burden of responsibility and make that wing role his own for years to come.

An indifferent time once again had looked to be on the cards and perhaps Mikey’s fate is already signed, sealed and delivered as Brendan Rodgers wants more quality in his team on a regular basis. But at least the homegrown star acknowledges where the flaws are in his game and has pledged to try and rectify them. Speaking to Celtic TV after the Dundee match, he said: “When you’re chasing a goal, sometimes it can be harder for the first one to go in. Once the first one goes in they can keep coming after that.

“I came off the back of an injury at the start of the year so it was like a pre-season in those first few games. It’s just not happened in some games and in some, I’ve played well. The goal or assist just hasn’t come and that final action is something I need to improve on to get my stats up for the team. What I’m striving for is more goals and assists and the more I can help the team the better.”

Johnston also took the time to give his teammates praise after the sacrifices they all had to make in spending Christmas Day away from their families as they had to graft hard for three points in uninspiring conditions.

He added: “I’m delighted because the boys have all left their families for Christmas and to get the win is amazing and to score a couple of goals is even better. We were cruising at 1-0 but you never know what can happen as a team can get a goal and sneak it so we had to put the game away. Going forward it’s a massive three points as there are a lot of games in December and we need to win them all, but we won’t take anything for granted.”