The goalkeeper has proven himself at Aston Villa – so it would be a shame for him to sit in the stands at Manchester United.
The modern football fan may not be the most patient of individuals but Aston Villa fans’ criticism of Sam Johnstone after a couple of early jitters always seemed rather premature.
The goalkeeper, who arrived on loan from Manchester United in January according to the Birmingham Mail, was roundly slammed after gifting Nottingham Forest a crucial goal in a turnaround defeat early on in his career at the Midlands club, with fans suggesting that he was no better than inexperienced Pierluigi Gollini or the unconvincing Mark Bunn.
However, providing the platform for a stunning run of four wins in five with clean sheets in each, Johnstone is now growing in confidence and stature after finally being given the chance to show what he can do on a regular basis – stuck in the United reserves, he had not played a senior game in the entire first half of the season.
Nonetheless, the Birmingham Mail report that Johnstone’s long-term ambitious revolve around making an impact in the first team at Old Trafford after recently signing a new contract until 2018.
You can see why he’d be so determined to prove his worth. He joined the club at the age of 15 in 2009 and is now embarking on his ninth loan spell. He is yet to even make his United debut.
Yet, on the other hand, finding a way past David de Gea appears impossible. Even if the Spaniard finally moves to Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho will more than likely sign another top class goalkeeper in his place.
However, Johnstone has demonstrated in just two months at Villa that he needs, and deserves, first-team football to progress. At the age of 23, now is surely the time to realise that his Theatre of Dreams is unlikely to become reality.
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