Brendan Rodgers quashes talk of Mikey Johnston leaving Celtic on loan

Follow us on Google Discover

Mikey Johnston was linked with a loan move away from Celtic as part of the deal that the Hoops reportedly hoped to agree for John McGinn.

In comments reported by Sky Sports, Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Mikey Johnston will not be leaving Celtic on loan this summer amid reports that he was going to be used as part of the deal to get John McGinn through the Parkhead door.

Celtic’s pursuit of the Hibernian midfielder has so far been unsuccessful, and there was the suggestion that Johnston may be sent to Easter Road for the coming season to sweeten the deal and pave the way for the Scotland international to head in the opposite direction.

However, Rodgers has suggested that the 19-year-old will not be leaving on a temporary basis this summer as he believes that he could contribute to the Bhoys during the next year.

“He is very much staying here at Celtic at this point in time,” he said, as reported by Sky Sports. “He is an exciting young talent at 19 years of age. He is learning the other side of the game in terms of the tactical idea of pressing and how to work and how to recover but there is no doubt he is a special talent.

“So at this moment in time he is very much in my plans. We need to develop him, get him some games and if that changes there is a number of options with teams that would like to take him, but at this moment he stays.”

Johnston provided Rodgers with a reminder of his talent and potential with a goal in the pre-season win over Standard Liege at the weekend, and the youngster will be hoping that he can earn more opportunities for the side during the coming campaign.

It did appear that loaning him out could be a good move for the Hoops given that it would provide Johnston with plenty of first-team experience, but if Rodgers feels that he may have a role to play at Parkhead next term, then that is undoubtedly an exciting sign.

And based on the glimpses of quality that there have been so far in his brief career, it would certainly be no surprise if it quickly becomes apparent that keeping him around was a very smart decision from Rodgers.