The Celtic gem scored a brilliant goal on Tuesday night.
Five seconds. That’s how long it took for Mikey Johnston to change the complexion of Celtic’s Champions League qualifier on Tuesday evening.
FK Sarajevo took a surprise lead in their visit of the Hoops, but Johnston equalised on 35 minutes.
The 20-year-old Celtic gem received the ball in midfield, drove forward and held off a couple of challenges, before letting rip from 25 yards and watching the ball sail into the top corner. Something from nothing.
It was a magnificent goal for Neil Lennon’s side – the first of three away goals they would score last night – and a big reminder that there’s simply no chance Celtic will be loaning out Johnston.
Last month, The Scottish Sun claimed that the Lennoxtown product was being targeted by Panathinaikos. It looked a silly rumour at the time, but now there’s simply no shot.
Brendan Rodgers was a big fan of the ‘electrifying’ youngster, telling The Record in January: “He doesn’t need to be massive. But he does need to be able to protect the ball. He has a natural instinct. Mikey played as a striker as a kid. He has that electrifying speed that can really hurt teams in behind.”
Lennon will be keeping Johnston this season and beyond. He is a game-changer – and proved as much in the space of five seconds.
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