Celtic expert: Mikey Johnston backed to join English club as new details emerge

Frank McAvennie has suggested Mikey Johnston will join an English Championship or League One side if he leaves Celtic this summer.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Hoops striker suggested Johnston may want to stay in Portugal at the end of his loan deal.

The 23-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes which runs until June.

His Parkhead deal will have three years left when he returns to Glasgow in the summer.

The winger has made 24 appearances for the Portuguese outfit so far this season and has scored three goals and provided three assists in those outings.

Back at Paradise, the Ireland international has fallen down the pecking order under Ange Postecoglou and made just 12 league appearances last season.

But, as quoted by the Scotsman (24 March), Johnston said he has not given up hopes of returning to the Hoops at the end of the season.

When asked if Johnston will be thinking about a permanent move when his loan expires, McAvennie told Football Insider: "It will be League One or the Championship [in England].

"If he is doing well maybe they will take him in Portugal.

"He will look at Lewis Ferguson doing really well in Italy, Aaron Hickey used to play in Italy. He will have a look at them and think 'maybe that is my way to get full time football'.

"It might be a new chapter for him. I have said he has got to leave because he has been there for too long and he has not established himself. Ange is a football guy, he would not want anyone to sit on the bench."

In other news, Celtic star set to leave after falling out with Ange Postecoglou.