FAITH THE FACTS
I don’t fear Euro crunch or facing Gers ... Brendan told me if he didn’t trust me he wouldn’t be picking me
MIKEY JOHNSTON reckons he has no reason to fear a double header against Suduva and Rangers because Brendan Rodgers says he’s good enough to be there.
The 19-year-old is in line to face the Lithuanians tonight in the Europa League play-off having impressed when making his maiden continental start for the club in the first leg.
Johnston could also be in line for an outing in Sunday’s Old Firm showdown but he’s not fazed.
As far as the teenager is concerned if he wasn’t up to it he wouldn’t be there.
Johnston and Rodgers spent a good five minutes alone on the pitch together an hour before kick-off in Lithuania as the manager outlined his faith and was repaid instantly.
The youngster settled immediately and created the vital away goal for Olivier Ntcham which has put Celtic in control of the tie ahead of tonight’s return.
Johnston is adamant the confidence to break through comes from his gaffer’s belief and said: “It’s been amazing.
“This was the first time I’d been away with the first team during pre-season and everyone has been so good with me.
“Starting in Lithuania gave me a lot of confidence because the manager trusted me to play and I hope I repaid them.
“When he spoke to me on the pitch before the game he told me there was no pressure on me and I should take belief from the fact he had selected me.
“He said he trusted me and asked me to go out and do what I normally do. I try to enjoy myself when I’m out there and that’s what I do in every game.
“If I’m picked to play then people trust me so that should give me enough confidence.
“You can’t go out and be afraid because if you feel like that you’re never going to be able to play well. You need to believe in yourself.”
It’s not just Rodgers who offers inspiration. Within the confines of Lennoxtown the attacker sees team-mates such as Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor who have come through the system and developed into top-team stars.
In the background the former ball boy has ex-hero and Under-20s coach Shaun Maloney guiding him.
If that’s not enough when he gets home his family keep him on the straight and narrow.
Johnston said: “They keep me grounded and make sure they tell me that I am not that good.
“Who is my biggest critic at home? My dad! If I don’t score he’s on my back but it’s good. He helps me. He played amateur and I was always out with him in the back garden.
“When I was really young, maybe five or six, I loved Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney, who is here now and has been really good with me. We used to go through things and analyse it when I was with the Under-20s.
“We would look at my games and see what I could do better.
“Kieran was the last person to come through the ranks and he’s done so well. He and Callum are really good with the young players coming up.
“They’re always there to give you advice and Scott Brown is brilliant as well.
“I don’t know the stats but there were a few academy players playing the other day and that’s encouraging.”
With the assistance and support behind him it’s all now down to Johnston.
Having missed a large chunk of the second half of last term injured the youngster was courted by clubs such as Hibs and St Mirren in the summer for
You can’t be afraid. If you feel like that you’re never going to be able to play well MIKEY JOHNSTON
loan moves. But the transfer window looks set to close with him firmly in the Celtic picture and he’s desperate to grasp the golden opportunity afforded by his boss.
Johnston said: “Going on loan was always a possibility because I want to play first-team football and if that hadn’t been possible here it would have been an option.
“But everyone has always been positive with me so I was working hard in training to get my chance.
“Of course I’d rather stay here and take my chance as long as there was one. I grew up as a Celtic supporter so I wanted to play for them.
“If anything had come up I would have taken it in my stride but I’ve always been 100 per cent focused on Celtic.
“I didn’t speak much to the manager about it. It was all very chilled and if it happened it happened.
“But I was doing well at training and the opportunities tend to come when you work hard and I’ve been doing that.
“I was really disappointed with the injury but everyone was great with me, telling me these things happen and I would come back from it.
“I was supposed to be out for 12 weeks but I was back after 10 so it wasn’t too bad, although it was frustrating.
“Every week is a big week but this week it’s a European game and Rangers.
“We haven’t talked about it. We’ve done half the job against Suduva and now we need to go and finish it off.”