Sam Johnstone has impressed for Aston Villa so far this season.
Sam Johnstone of Aston Villa (L) saves a shot from Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur (R)
Aston Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has told The Express and Star that he is flattered to hear of Prince William asking whether he will staying with the club.
Villa’s fine form continued over the weekend, as they picked up a 2-0 home win over Ipswich Town, with the red-hot Albert Adomah scoring twice to continue his stunning purple patch.
Villa now sit fourth in the Championship table, and their superb record of conceding just 17 goals in 19 games – a record bettered by only Cardiff City – has been driving their success.
Whilst Villa’s summer deal for John Terry grabbed the headlines for Steve Bruce’s back line, Villa also managed to re-sign goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on another loan deal from Manchester United.
Johnstone spent the second half of last season on loan with Villa, and whilst he started poorly, he ended last term superbly, and has continued that this term, starring between the sticks for Villa.
Now, Johnstone has revealed to The Express and Star that manager Bruce spoke to him on Friday, and Prince William – a known Villa fan – asked Bruce if Johnstone would be staying, which Johnstone admitted is ‘good to hear’.
Aston Villa keeper Sam Johnstone
Johnstone added that he doesn’t know anything about a permanent transfer to Villa Park, as he is just concentrated on playing games and helping Villa win promotion back to the Premier League.
“At breakfast on Friday the manager told me the Prince had seen my shirt, said I’d done well and asked if Villa could try to keep hold of me,” said Johnstone. “That’s good to hear, coming from someone like that.”
“At the moment the situation is I am here, playing games. That is it for now. Getting promoted is the main objective. Hopefully it happens and I can be part of it,” he added.
With no chance of displacing David De Gea at Manchester United, next summer may well be the right time for Johnstone to leave Old Trafford for good, given that he will be 25 when the summer transfer window opens – and Villa may well hope that he stays at Villa Park for the long term.
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