It’s a must win over the fans
Mikey’s out to prove he’s worth his place
Mikey Johnston admits the jury is still out on his mission to convince Celtic fans he can nail down a first-team spot with the Hoops.
But the Republic of Ireland international is adamant he’s more than worthy of a fair trial after returning to the club from a loan spell in Portugal as an improved all-round footballer.
Brendan Rodgers handed the winger his first start in 22 months against Hibs in midweek.
And he cha l lenged the 24 - year - old to g rab the opportunity with both hands as he’s no longer “a baby” emerging from the club’s academy.
Johnston insists the penny has dropped as he looks to earn a sustained run in the side and go from being the forgotten man to a huge part of the future.
He said: “People do like something new, such as new signings, but I am still just trying to prove to people that I can play here.
“I have been at the club for a while and people are probably saying that I’ve been here for this long and maybe not proven myself – but I have in spells.
“It’s very hard to win people over. The pressure is on me and I’m trying to unlock my potential the best I can.
“I went on loan to a league in Portugal when I wanted to be at
Celtic. I’m trying to take every step I can to fulfil my potential.
“People act as though I haven’t actually played games for Celtic but I have played nearly 100 and played in six cup finals.
“Obviously I need to be playing every single week and that’s what I want to do.
“The manager is telling me to take the bull by the horns and hopefully I can do that.”
Appearances off the bench against Motherwell, St Johnstone and Lazio provided enough evidence for Rodgers that Johnston merited a start on Wednesday night against Hibs.
But the wideman admitted it was difficult for him to hit the ground running.
He said: “I hadn’t started a game this season although I’d played a couple of games for the Republic of Ireland.
“So it did feel like a sort of pre-season in that I needed to get up to speed.
“It was just good to get back out on the pitch again though.
“Starting the game is also a bit different too rather than coming on as a sub.
“Games are coming thick and fast just now so it was tough for me physically – I just need to build that up and keep at it.
“It’s just the way the game goes when you are a winger.
“Sometimes you don’t get a lot of the ball – the other night I wasn’t getting a lot of the ball.
“But I pressed well, defensively I was good for the team and getting the result was the most important thing.
“Last season I was with Vitoria Guimaraes who played a different way and I feel I learned a lot from that tactically.
“I haven’t played a lot so it’s just about adjusting and doing exactly what the manager wants. I’m taking everything that the manager is asking for on board.”
The acid test for Johnston will come down to whether he is given a run of games in the coming weeks and if the consistency that has eluded him during his career so far can be sustained.
But he’s confident he can meet the high expectations that come with his undoubted talent.
Ahead of today’s trip to Rugby Park, he said: “I don’t think there is ever a comfort blanket at a club like Celtic. There is pressure every minute. When I went away on
loan there was less pressure but I learned a lot.
“It was always in the back of my head that I wanted to come back to Celtic Park.
“You grow up quickly in a new country on your own. Living away from home, when it’s a different language, is tough.
“It’s a different sort of footbal l and I a lso learned from playing last season as it was a bit similar to that in terms of tactically.
“That has stood me in good stead going into this season.”
Johnston is also intent on pushing himself to the front of his manager’s mind for one of the attacking roles as he’s become conditioned to a survival of the fittest attitude at Celtic in a squad full of options.
He said: “There has always been competition for places.
“When I first came through there was Scott Sinclair, James Forrest and Pat Roberts.
“There’s always the threat of someone new coming in the door at every transfer window.
“That is understandable as the club are trying to win titles and do well in Europe – so there is always competition and you need to step up.”