Mikey Johnston admits to West Brom doubts after inevitable Celtic exit

Mikey Johnston has admitted that he had doubts whether he would secure a last-minute return to West Brom from Celtic.

The 25-year-old knew he would be leaving Celtic Park on deadline day [30 August] and secured his return to The Hawthorns by signing a four-year deal with the Baggies [Express and Star].

Carlos Corberan spent £3million to bring Johnston back down south of the border but the forward has revealed he had doubts that West Brom could afford his return.

"I thought it was an outside chance - you know the stuff with FFP and whatever," he said to BBC Sport [9 September].

"I knew I was probably going to be leaving Celtic. The options that I did have I thought it was going to the last day anyway.

"It was quite late, genuinely, but I tried to give West Brom every chance so it was possible to come back."

Mikey Johnston is a statement of intent for West Brom

An incredible loan spell at the Baggies in which he scored seven and assisted two in 20 Championship appearances wasn't enough for Johnston to force himself into Brendan Rodgers' plans at Celtic.

While a return to The Hawthorns was the desired outcome for the forward it mustn't have been easy for him to pack up his bags at his boyhood club and wave a fond farewell to the supporters.

However, if the side continues the way they are playing after the international break, Johnston won't have to wait too long to play top-flight football again only this time in the Premier League.

Corberan has engineered an unbeaten start to the Championship season and, his side sits in second place behind Sunderland and is currently among the favourites for automatic promotion [The Opta Analyst].

It is a signing that has boosted the already joyous atmosphere at The Hawthorns, the West Brom faithful had to watch first-team regulars Brandon Thomas-Asante, Okay Yokuslu, and Conor Townsend among others leave the club this summer, and the side is arguably in a much stronger position.

Johnston will be a vital component on the West Brom flanks this season and can ease the pain of departing his beloved Celtic with potential Premier League football to contend with next season.

In other West Brom news, the Baggies are set for a £8m financial windfall after the latest announcement.

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