Michael Andrew Johnston (born 19 April 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Celtic. Born in Scotland, he plays for the Republic of Ireland national team.

Mikey Johnston
Johnston in 2023
Personal information
Full name Michael Andrew Johnston
Date of birth (1999-04-19) 19 April 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m)[1]
Position(s) Winger[1]
Team information
Current team
West Bromwich Albion (on loan from Celtic)
Number 23
Youth career
2008–2017 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017– Celtic 60 (9)
2022–2023Vitória Guimarães (loan) 25 (1)
2024–West Bromwich Albion (loan) 15 (7)
International career
2017 Scotland U19 5 (3)
2018–2019 Scotland U21 3 (1)
2023– Republic of Ireland 10 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:17, 13 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:15, 26 March 2024

Early life edit

Michael Andrew Johnston was born on 19 April 1999 in Glasgow.[1]

Club career edit

Celtic edit

Johnston made his first-team debut for Celtic on 6 May 2017, in a 4–1 victory over St Johnstone at Celtic Park.[2] Shortly after the game, the winger signed a new three-year contract with his boyhood club.[3][4]

In November 2018, Johnston signed a contract with Celtic to run until the end of the 2022–23 season.[5] In the following month, Johnston scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win against Motherwell.[6]

On 28 November 2019, Johnston scored in a 3–0 victory against Ligue 1 team Stade Rennais in the UEFA Europa League.[7] Johnston signed a new five-year contract with Celtic on 28 December 2019.[8]

Johnston's Celtic career has been disrupted by numerous injuries, which had seen him miss much of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 Scottish Premiership seasons. He subsequently found opportunities rare during the 2021–22 campaign with arrivals Jota, Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda ahead of Johnston in the pecking order for his position.[9][10]

Vitória de Guimarães (loan) edit

During the summer of 2022, manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Celtic would look to loan Johnston out for more regular game time, commenting that: "There's definitely a talented footballer there, but sometimes you just need a different environment to help that happen". Belgian Pro League club Standard Liège (managed by former Celtic head coach Ronny Deila) were reportedly interested in his services, along with Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.[11][10] On 2 September 2022, Johnston went on a season-long loan to Primeira Liga side Vitória de Guimarães. He also signed a one year extension to his current Celtic deal prior to the move.[12] On 15 October 2022, Johnston scored his first goal and brace for Vitória S.C. in a 3–1 Taça de Portugal win against CF Canelas 2010. On 31 October 2022, Johnston scored his first league goal in a 3–2 home win against Famalicão.[13]

West Bromwich Albion (loan) edit

On 1 February 2024, Johnston joined West Bromwich Albion on loan for the remainder of the season. [14] On 13 February 2024, Johnston scored his first goal for the club against Cardiff City, scoring just 30 seconds into the game on his first start for the Baggies.[15] Across March 2024, Johnston scored four goals, assisting another, as he was awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month.[16]

International career edit

Johnston was born in Glasgow and represented Scotland in youth internationals.[17] Selected for the Scotland under-21 squad in the 2018 Toulon Tournament,[18] the team lost to Turkey on penalties and finished fourth.[19] He was voted third best player[20] and selected in the Best Tournament XI.[21]

Johnston is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, through his grandfather who was born in Derry.[22] Ireland manager Stephen Kenny confirmed in March 2023 that the FAI had applied for permission to select Johnston.[22] It was then confirmed by the FAI the same month that the application had been approved by FIFA,[23][24] and he was selected for their squad later that month.[25]

He made his debut for the Republic of Ireland on 22 March 2023, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute of a 3–2 win against Latvia.[26] On 19 June 2023, he scored his first goal for Ireland, the opening goal in a 4-0 win against Gibraltar in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier.[27]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 13 April 2024[28][29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic Under-20s[a] 2016–17[30] 1[b] 0 1 0
2017–18[31] 1[c] 0 1 0
Total 2 0 2 0
Celtic 2016–17[30] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2017–18[31] Scottish Premiership 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2018–19[32] Scottish Premiership 14 5 3 0 1 0 5[d] 0 23 5
2019–20[33] Scottish Premiership 11 2 1 0 2 1 8[e] 3 22 6
2020–21[34] Scottish Premiership 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
2021–22[35] Scottish Premiership 12 0 2 0 2 0 4[f] 0 20 0
2022–23[36] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–24[37] Scottish Premiership 9 2 1 0 0 0 2[g] 0 12 2
Total 60 9 8 0 5 1 19 3 92 13
Vitória de Guimarães (loan) 2022–23[36] Primeira Liga 25 1 3 2 3 0 31 3
West Bromwich Albion (loan) 2023–24[37] EFL Championship 15 7 0 0 15 7
Career total 100 17 11 2 8 1 21 3 140 23
  1. ^ Matches in the Scottish Challenge Cup, in which teams from the SPFL Development League compete against senior clubs
  2. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  4. ^ One appearance in the UEFA Champions League and four appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Four appearances and one goal in the UEFA Champions League and four appearances and two goals in the UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Three appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ One appearance in the UEFA Champions League

International edit

As of match played 26 March 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2023 8 2
2024 2 0
Total 10 2
List of international goals scored by Mikey Johnston
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 19 June 2023 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland   Gibraltar 1–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
2 16 October 2023 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal   Gibraltar 2–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Honours edit

Celtic

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Mikey Johnston: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  2. ^ Barnes, John (6 May 2017). "Celtic 4–1 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Delight as Michael Johnston signs new three-year deal". Celtic. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Celtic: Youngster Michael Johnston delighted to sign new three year contract". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Michael Johnston: Celtic winger signs new five-year contract". BBC Sport. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Highlights: Celtic 3-0 Motherwell". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Celtic confirm top spot with Rennes win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Celtic: Mikey Johnston signs five-year contract extension". BBC Sport. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  9. ^ Pilcher, Ross (1 September 2022). "Mikey Johnston seals Celtic exit as winger leaves on loan". Daily Record. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Mikey Johnston linked with move to Ronny Delia's Standard Liege". thecelticstar.com. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  11. ^ Robertson, Euan (29 July 2022). "Mikey Johnston set for Celtic loan exit as Ange Postecoglou confirms plans". footballscotland. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Celtic ace Mikey Johnston joins Vitoria Guimarase on season-long loan". HeraldScotland. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  13. ^ Galindo, Alan (1 November 2022). "Mikey Johnston nets Vitoria Guimaraes cracker as Celtic loan star impresses". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Mikey Johnston joins on loan from Celtic". West Bromwich Albion. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Johnston ready for 'massive' West Brom challenge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  16. ^ a b "MIKEY JOHNSTON WINS MARCH'S SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD". www.wba.co.uk. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  17. ^ Owen, Danny (7 August 2019). "Celtic replacing Mikey Johnston with Husein Balic is now unthinkable". HITC.
  18. ^ "Scotland Under-21 squad announced for Toulon tournament". Scottish Football Association. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Scotland finish fourth at the Toulon tournament after shoot-out defeat to Turkey". Scottish Football Association. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Festival International Espoirs 2018 : les récompenses" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  21. ^ "L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Mikey Johnston: On-loan Vitoria winger to declare for Republic of Ireland". BBC Sport. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Johnston receives FIFA international clearance | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  24. ^ "Mikey Johnston: Celtic winger's switch to Republic of Ireland approved by Fifa". BBC Sport. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Mikey Johnston: Celtic winger receives first Republic of Ireland call-up". BBC Sport. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  26. ^ Young, Graeme (22 March 2023). "Mikey Johnston becomes instant Ireland hero as Celtic loan star's magic show sparks thrilling win over Latvia". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  27. ^ "Ireland 4 Gibraltar 0". RTE Sport. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  28. ^ "[Celtic player] Johnston, Michael". Fitbastats. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  29. ^ Mikey Johnston at Soccerway
  30. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  33. ^ "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  35. ^ "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Johnston in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  38. ^ "Celtic secured an eighth consecutive title in style with a convincing win away to wasteful Aberdeen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  39. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Dundee United 1–1 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side reclaim league title". BBC Sport. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  41. ^ "Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Celtic". BBC Sport. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  42. ^ Celtic win fourth straight Scottish Cup as Hazard's shootout saves break Hearts, Ewan Murray, The Guardian, 20 December 2020
  43. ^ "Rangers 0 – 1 Celtic". BBC Sport. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  44. ^ "Hibernian 1–2 Celtic". BBC Sport.
  45. ^ "L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 11 June 2018.

External links edit