Celtic idol ‘surprised’ by Mikey Johnston latest as new details emerge
Frank McAvennie has urged Mikey Johnston against returning to Celtic.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Hoops striker said he would be “surprised” if Johnston returns to Parkhead after his loan and insisted he won’t get enough game time.
The 23-year-old is currently on loan at Vitoria Guimaraes on a season long loan that runs until June.
His contract at Celtic runs until 2026.
As quoted by the Scotsman (24 March), Johnston said he has not given up hopes of returning to the Hoops but insisted he wants to feel “important” wherever he plays and not just sit on the bench.
The winger has enjoyed a successful loan spell in Portugal and has made 23 appearances across all competitions and has scored three goals and provided three assists.
Johnston has fallen down the pecking order at Parkhead since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou and his new signings.
Last season, the attacker made 16 league appearances for the Hoops but was only in the starting XI for three of those games.
There is now a long list of players in front of the Ireland international when he returns to Celtic in the summer.
McAvennie insisted Johnston is best looking for a move away.
“[Daizen] Maeda and Jota are in front of him, even [Liel] Abada and [James] Forrest as well as [Sead] Haksabanovic,” he told Football Insider.
“There are way too many players now I would be surprised if he comes back. Why would you want to come back?
“He will have that feeling now of training all week to play at the weekend, he did not get that at Celtic so I do not think he would want to go back to that.
“It is great to play for Celtic but you have got to get a game. He is not going to get enough game time.“
In other news, Celtic star has rejected new contract.