THERE are a number of exciting Scottish Premiership prospects that are worth getting excited about. With that in mind, we'll be revealing our top 10 players under 21 currently plying their trade in the top flight. In order to be considered, players have to be based in Scotland permanently and have to have a significant number of minutes under their belts this season. The likes of Karamoko Dembele at Celtic or Rangers' Dapo Mebude might go on to become stars, but it's still a little too early to say for sure. Without any further ado, here's our number 3...
The likes of Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney are clear and obvious examples that there is a path to the first team at Celtic Park for youth players who have got the talent. Mikey Johnston looks like he will be the next player to graduate to the senior side after an impressive 2018/19 season from the forward.
At the start of the season, Johnston was at best a fringe player but the winger has forced himself into contention amongst the first-team squad after a series of eye-catching displays. With Scott Sinclair's future at Celtic the subject of transfer speculation, Johnston could be the man to fill the void if the Englishman departs this summer.
READ MORE: The top 10 Premiership youngsters | 4: Lewis Ferguson
The case for Johnston's further inclusion is a strong one. A confident dribbler, the winger is unafraid to take on his opposite number and his eye for goal makes the 20-year-old a particularly dangerous opponent. Out of the players that have played at least 500 minutes in the Scottish top flight this season, Johnston has the fourth-highest goals per 90 minutes ratio of 0.63. Only Jermain Defoe, Alfredo Morelos and Odsonne Edouard find the net at a better rate than Johnston.
The young winger was the hero on the final day of the Premiership season, scoring both goals in Celtic's 2-1 win over an admittedly understrength Hearts team, giving an indication of what the forward can add to this Celtic team going forward.
Few would have predicted Johnston would be starting in the Scottish Cup final ahead of Scott Sinclair but that is precisely what happened. Given the fact that Sinclair's powers are on the wane and Johnston is on the up, betting against the Scotland under-21 international eventually displacing the 30-year-old from Neil Lennon's starting lineup would be foolish indeed. So long as Johnston continues to demonstrate his quality, Sinclair will be looking nervously over his shoulder.
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