Johnston admits he won’t gamble his first-team break by playing with injury

You know your stock is on the rise when questions are asked about your absence rather than your presence.

Mikey Johnston’s well aware of it – but he’s not prepared to sacrifice his long-term future for short-term plaudits.

The 20-year-old is one of Neil Lennon’s favourites, starting the Scottish Cup Final in May and flag day last week ahead of treble Treble icon Scott Sinclair.

So when he didn’t feature against Cluj in Romania in midweek, questions were asked.

But the talented kid’s desire for a shirt won’t cloud his judgment on what’s best for him or the team.

Johnston’s ability to break down defences could be crucial in the return as Cluj will look to sit in and counter after the 1-1 first-leg draw.

He sat it out again at Motherwell yesterday but Johnston said: “I’m fit. I just had a tight hamstring and we didn’t want to risk it. It’s better to be out for a couple of days than a few weeks. I’m trying to establish myself and want to keep getting games. If I keep working hard in training and produce on the big stage that’s all it’s about.” Lennon is a big admirer of the most recent academy graduate to become a regular. The manager said: “Mikey has been excellent. He’s only 20 so he’s still growing into his body a bit. “He has put on a bit of weight that will help him to ride the tackles and get stronger. “He has a little bit to go in terms of his all-round physical development but we’re delighted with the talent he has shown. “He’s a good player. I don’t want to build him up too much but we’ve high hopes for him in the future.” If Johnston ( left) does come straight back in for Tuesday he’s not short on belief that he can make a difference.

He said: “I watched the Cluj game from the stand and it was frustrating. But the result was a positive, taking an away goal. We have the advantage.

“You always think what you’d do if you were playing – I reckon I’d have done alright if I’d played.”

Johnston is the first product of the Hoops academy to command a regular spot in their first-team since Kieran Tierney’s breakthrough.

And he bel ieves the ful l- back’s £25million move to Arsenal makes him the perfect poster boy for the system.

He said: “Everyone at the club wishes KT well – he deserves whatever comes to him.

“And it’s a great advert for what the club does. Kieran came through the academy, grew up in Glasgow, he’s a brilliant example.

“Every academy player wants to do what he has done – break into the first team and establish yourself.”