Fit-again Mikey aims to grasp his Covid-19 opportunity with both hands in the run-in
The old wisdom about it being an ill wind that blows nobody any good applies just as much in football as it does in everyday life.
With Celtic forced to do without Christopher Jullien – who tested positive for Covid-19 on his return from Dubai – and 13 other players self-isolating, they have no choice but to make full use of their squad.
That has meant supporters getting a glimpse of precocious talents such as Armstrong Okoflex, Karamoko
Dembele, Stephen Welsh and Cameron Harper. And for fringe players like Mikey Johnston, it has meant more game time and added responsibility to help bed the new faces in.
The 21-year-old winger spent almost all of 2020 on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury against St Johnstone last December.
Now fully-fit again, and desperate to make up for lost time, he was being eased back into the swing of things by manager, Neil Lennon.
Typical was his cameo turn in the Scottish Cup Final.
Having been sent on in the last minute of regulation time, Johnston scored the coolest of penalties in the shoot-out to help the Hoops complete a Treble spread out over two seasons.
Last Monday night’s game against Hibs brought a landmark of a different kind – his first start in a year.
“It’s been a long time, so it was good to get the minutes under my belt,” admitted Johnston.
“The circumstances were obviously a bit different from last time, but I was just happy to be back out on the pitch.
“It was tough playing as a lone striker, but I always feel I can go and do a job up there.
“It’s not my first-choice role, but I enjoyed it, to be fair. I had different faces around me, which was difficult.
“Obviously it was last minute to put the team together.
“I had been working really hard in
the gym, doing everything I can to get my body right, and get fit for this half of the season.
“I feel in a good place at the moment. “When there are 13 players out, there’s obviously going to be more chance of me playing.
“If this is my chance, then I have to take it.
“To be honest, I felt better than expected at the end of the game. “My body actually felt pretty good. “I have put a lot of work in to get my fitness up, so obviously that has paid off.”
It was a process which, Johnston says, was given a boost by the trip to the United Arab Emirates.
“I definitely took something away from Dubai. It was a good one for me,” he said.
“The sessions were longer, and we also had the heat, which helps in terms of fitness.
“The sessions were high intensity, as well as being longer, similar to what we have done in previous years.
“We have always reaped the rewards of that.”
Last Monday was a night of frustration for Celtic, who led through David Turnbull but were pegged back by a Hibs equaliser and had to settle for a draw.
It was also, the winger argued, not representative of his ability.
“Playing one game in a year means I’m not at my best,” he said.
“Hopefully, I can get a run, and that will bring me back to where I was,” he said.
“It’s frustrating having been out for so long. The virus obviously didn’t help, and I had to do my recovery myself.
“There were times where the restrictions meant I had to watch the games at home on the couch.
“Now, though, I have put my injuries behind me, and I am just looking forward.
“I feel as if you play your best stuff when you are playing regularly.”
A trip to the Tony Macaroni on Wednesday night for a quick re-match against Livingston is next up for Johnston.
He said: “I have always liked astroturf. I don’t mind it. I am just buzzing to be back.”