MIKEY JOHNSTON got the ball rolling in Celtic’s Premiership League season with the opening goal in the 7-0 Flag Day triumph over St Johnstone.
The Scotland Under-21 international winger continued where he left off the previous season when he netted a double in the 2-1 victory over Hearts in the east end of Glasgow as the curtain came down on the Hoops’ eighth successive title.
Johnston – and his team-mates – kept up the good work the following weekend when they replicated the scoreline against the same opponents in the Scottish Cup Final. On this occasion, Odsonne Edouard was the two-goal hero.
The stylish and tricky winger’s progress has been hampered this time around with a persistent injury sustained in the 2-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox at the start of September, but he has played his part as Neil Lennon’s men rattled in 141 goals across all competitions before the coronavirus pandemic forced football into cold storage in the middle of last month.
THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD…Mikey Johnston fires in the opener in the 7-0 win over St Johnstone.
Johnston, though, is among 10 candidates in the running for Magners Celtic Goal of the Season award, as voted for by the fans.
And the strike that really hit the target was his blistering effort in the 3-1 Champions League first leg qualifier over FK Sarajevo in Bosnia on July 8, which just happened to be the team’s first goal of the competitive season.
The eye-catching net-bulger arrived in the 35th minute, only moments after the home side had taken the lead. The youngster collected the ball 40 yards out and headed into the danger zone. He jinked inside from the left before rifling a 25-yard drive high into the net.
Johnston, speaking to The Celtic View, admitted: “I liked that goal because it was important and we were behind in the game. With me being young and in Europe, I felt really proud because it showed a bit of character.
“I was delighted that it went in and it was an important goal for the boys.”
