IT goes without saying that Mikey Johnston hopes Celtic can fend off advances from Arsenal for left-back Kieran Tierney, but even if they do manage to prise away one of the club’s main assets, Johnston believes his legacy will have been to inspire those that look to follow in his footsteps.
Johnston knows that even though Tierney is just two years his senior, he has a long way to go to emulate the progress of his teammate, but he is sure that if he follows the template for success laid out by Tierney then he will have a great chance of doing so.
“KT is definitely someone that all the academy boys would look up to,” Johnston said. “He has played so many games in a short amount of time and he is still only 22.
“That is something that obviously I want to do, and I think all the academy boys coming up would like to replicate what KT has done: play in big nights in Europe and win trophies.
“I don’t think it matters where you come from. If I am coming through and performing every week, and there are other people who come into the club, then the better player is going to play, that’s how it works.
“You’ve got to work hard and show that you deserve to be in the team, or you won’t play.”
One man who is set to check into the club is David Turnbull, with the seemingly interminable move from Motherwell dragging on yet further, although it is hoped the deal will be sealed today.
Johnston knows him well having played alongside his new teammate already for Scotland’s under-21 side, and while he is a huge fan, he has told the 19-year-old he too will have to be prepared to battle for a first-team jersey.
“Of course, I think he knows that, in coming to Celtic, he’s got a challenge on his hands to get into the team,” Johnston said.
“I know him from the Scotland squads, and he’s a good lad. He’s a very good player.”
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