West Brom got a deadline day signing over the line in Mikey Johnston, who joins on loan from Celtic for the remainder of the season.
West Brom were expected to do very little in the winter transfer window. But they perhaps did more than most thought they would with three players joining on loan.
Johnston joins Andi Weimann and Callum Marshall in signing for the Baggies on loan until the summer, giving Carlos Corberan three much-needed attacking additions going into the second half of the season.
The 24-year-old Johnston leaves Celtic on loan for a second time in as many seasons; he spent time in Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes last season where he scored one and assisted four in 25 league outings.
Upon his return to Scotland this season, the eight-time Republic of Ireland international has scored twice in nine league outings for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic.
The ‘problem’ with Celtic man Mikey Johnston
Johnston, on the surface anyway, looks like a shrewd capture for West Brom.
The winger adds some much-needed depth and quality to the ranks, but pundit Tony Haggerty has revealed what he thinks is the problem with Johnston, and why he’s not kicking on at Celtic.
He said on The Celtic Way podcast:
“My problem with Mikey Johnston; he’s never fit enough to have a consistent run of games, and I think he lacks an end product. I think his decision-making in the final third leaves a lot to be desired.”
West Brom don’t need another injured player
West Brom and injuries have gone hand in hand over the past 12 months or so, or for the entirety of Corberan’s tenure at The Hawthorns.
And he remains without some key players like Matt Philips and Josh Maja, which is why the club had to bolster their attacking ranks in the winter transfer window.
Johnston looks like a smart signing but this latest update will surely worry West Brom fans.
Corberan will only have known so much about the player; his style and his traits, but he may not have known much about his current fitness levels, with Johnston having not played all that much football this season.
And in a high-intensity West Brom side, Johnston could quickly run out of steam and potentially pick up another injury, which is the last thing that the Baggies need right now.
Corberan needs Johnston to come in and arguably replace Phillips who, when he wasn’t injured, was a very fit and physical individual.
Fans will no doubt keep a close eye on Johnston and how he fares, with the winger potentially making his debut in the game against Birmingham City this weekend.