Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Brendan Rodgers return would be 'unreal' and offer clean slate says Celtic star Mikey Johnston

Mikey Johnston admits Brendan Rodgers returning to Celtic would be UNREAL.

The Hoops attacker spent the season on loan in Portugal as he looked to get a consistent run of games under his belt. Before his departure Ange Postecoglou handed him an extended contract at Parkhead. He played in 25 league games and helped his Vitoria side qualify for the Europa Conference League next season.

Rodgers is in advanced talks to secure a stunning second stint in Glasgow and he was the man that handed Republic of Ireland cap Johnston his debut. It would also provide a dream clean slate for the attacker to try and force his way back in as he admitted he'd like to give it another go at the club he's always supported.

READ MORE: Celtic star Reo Hatate outlines top five leagues 'step up' ambition as he talks about future

Asked if he would be happy with the former Liverpool and Leicester City boss coming in as Postecoglou's successor, he told the Scottish Sun: “Definitely. He gave me my debut and every player loves the guy who gave them their debut, don’t they?

“Brendan’s a great manager and if he came back to Celtic he would be unreal.

“It’s a clean slate at the club as there will be a new gaffer, so I could be back there. It’s the club I’ve always supported, I’d like to give it another go.

“But we’ll see what happens. Whatever I do next season I want to play every game.”

Reflecting on his season in the Portuguese top flight, he added: “It was a tough year and it was a high level. I performed pretty well.

“I feel like I’ve learned so much in the year. When you play for Celtic, you’ve got the ball all the time and you’re attacking.

“At Vitoria, we had the ball a lot, but not always because there were four bigger teams, three in the Champions League as well.

“So there were probably eight games where you were testing yourself against them when you didn’t have the ball as much and tactically, I learned so much.

“Obviously with Celtic we played sort of the same system a lot, while we changed a lot in Portugal, depending on other teams, so I learned a lot.

“When you’re playing at Celtic, you get a lot of one v ones, a lot of touches. Sometimes in Portugal you’re not in the game as much and you need to be effective when you get it and be smart, win fouls.

“It’s a different style of football completely. You see it in how the referees are as well, they are totally different.”

READ NEXT:

- Brendan Rodgers in Celtic 'advanced talks' as stunning return for second stint edges closer

- Celtic star Reo Hatate outlines top five leagues 'step up' ambition as he talks about future

- Simon Jordan 'can't make sense' of Brendan Rodgers to Celtic as talkSPORT pundit delivers reasons

- The Celtic Europe key factor behind Brendan Rodgers return as Champions League plan mapped out

- We ‘appointed’ Brendan Rodgers as Celtic manager with two trophies won and European progress

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.