West Brom: Journalist shares what well-connected sources told him about Mikey Johnston
Hugh MacDonald has revealed that some well-connected sources previously told him that West Brom loanee Mikey Johnston was going to be the “next big thing” in Scottish football.
Speaking on PLZ Soccer on Thursday (21 March), The Herald journalist said the pair insisted that the Republic of Ireland international was going to go on and have a promising career after he’d suggested that Brighton midfielder Billy Gilmour could be the brightest prospect.
Although he admitted that the 24-year-old almost became the butt of jokes after underwhelming at Celtic, he added that the winger is playing really well for the Baggies and that they will now be looking to pay money to bring him to The Hawthorns on a permanent basis.
“A good few years ago, I was at a dinner with two guys and I won’t name them because it was a conversation at dinner, I would say very well respected in Scottish football, very well connected to what’s going on in Scottish football for who’s coming through, would know everybody from 12, 13 coming through to 18,” said MacDonald.
“I said, ‘What’s the next big thing in Scottish football?’. Both of them said Mikey Johnston. I said ‘I’ve heard about this boy Billy Gilmour’. No, Johnston. Johnston is going to be this, he’s going to be that, he’s going to be the next thing. And then, suddenly, he becomes the butt of almost jokes, ‘get him out, get him out’.
“Then he goes somewhere else and, suddenly, he’s a Championship player and he’s playing really well for West Brom and West Brom will pay money for him.”
Mikey Johnston getting career back on track at West Brom
It’s been pretty clear to see that Johnston has an awful lot of talent during his first couple of months at West Brom after scoring some excellent goals.
The winger had lost his place at Celtic and it appears as though a move away was just what he needed to get his career back on track.
It’s no real surprise to hear that he was highly thought of in his early years in Glasgow, with the ability he shows on the ball to beat a man with ease.
While the Irishman perhaps hasn’t quite reached the heights that were expected of him, his recent form with Albion shows that he could still have what it takes to play at the highest level.
He’s so far scored six goals and laid on one assist in 10 appearances as he looks to help the Baggies challenge for promotion this season.
In other West Brom news, Craig Dawson has aimed a dig at Albion after what happened against Wolves.
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