Celtic youngster Mikey Johnston has revealed that he intends to fight for a regular spot in the first team next season.
The 20-year-old made 12 Premiership appearances last term, saving the best until last when he netted both of his side’s goals in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat of Hearts.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup final against the Jambos, Johnston said that he intends to use his breakthrough season as a springboard for better things to come.
?? MJ on next season: "Hopefully I can become a regular. You've got to earn it and got to play well enough to stay in the team."
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 22, 2019
“Hopefully I can become a regular,” the winger said, as quoted by Celtic’s official Twitter account. “You’ve got to earn it and got to play well enough to stay in the team.”
OPINION
Johnston really did save his best performance until last. In his previous 11 Premiership appearances, he was only brought on from the substitutes bench. But when he was trusted by interim boss Neil Lennon to lead from the front in attack, he did not disappoint. He played a lovely one-two with fellow youngster Ewan Henderson for the first goal before providing the eventual winner in the second half after Hearts’ equaliser. Johnston will have been so pleased that he was able to showcase properly what he is all about, and it will certainly put him on the map for next season. It’s an ambitious target from Johnston, but one that is definitely achievable. If he continues to put in stellar performances during pre-season – like the one against Hearts – he has a really good chance of proving to whoever will be the Hoops boss next season that he deserves a proper look in. In any case, the Hearts game was the perfect opportunity to prove his talent, and one Johnston did not pass up.