Mikey Johnston’s Hearts Near Miss

Currently flying at English Championship outfit West Brom, Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston could have easily joined Hearts a few years ago.

That is according to Lee McCulloch, who was assistant to Robbie Neilson before he departed from Tynecastle around this time last year.

McCulloch recently stated that the Jambos wanted Johnston, but he wouldn’t leave Celtic for another club in Scotland. He said: [PLZ Soccer] “We tried to get Mikey Johnston at Hearts and he didn’t want to leave Celtic. And if he did leave Celtic he didn’t want to go to another Scottish team.”

That summer, the Ireland internationalist eventually signed for Vitoria Guimaraes and although he gained consistency in Portugal, his spell with the Primeira Liga side was underwhelming.

Now, however, Johnston is thriving in the Midlands. For West Brom so far, he has scored seven goals and assisted another in 15 Games. He was named Championship Player of the Month for his exploits in March.

The 24-year-old will not be short of suitors come the summer. Despite Brendan Rodgers throwing him a Celtic lifeline last week, one can’t help but feel the best place for Johnston’s development and overall career might be away from Parkhead.