West Brom will face Bristol City on Saturday in the Championship and David Prutton has shared his prediction.
The Baggies are currently fifth in the table with 63 points and are set for a place in the Championship play-offs at the end of the season.
Carlos Corberan’s side have only lost once in their last nine games in the Championship. One of the major reasons for their upturn in form can be put down to Mikey Johnston who has made a tremendous impact since joining from Celtic on loan.
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder was badly looking for game time at Celtic, and Brendan Rodgers allowed him to join the Baggies on loan in the January window. He has proved to be a massive hit at the Hawthorns, having scored six goals and provided one assist in his nine outings so far.
He scored a brace in the 4-1 win against Huddersfield Town, and Prutton has described it as a “masterclass” performance. Writing in his EFL Predictions for Sky Sports, Prutton says that Johnston’s impact has been “stunning”.
David Prutton blown away by West Ham winger Mikey Johnston
He said: “What a player Mikey Johnston looks. Is he one of the best January recruitments we’ve seen at this level? His impact for West Brom has been stunning, and he put on a masterclass again at Huddersfield last Sunday.
“Bristol City got a vital win last time out as they narrowly beat Swansea. On paper this looks like a home win, but the Robins tend to turn up against the better sides, so this is by no means a banker. But the Baggies should have the quality here.”
Prutton predicts West Brom to clinch a 2-0 victory on Saturday which will further bolster their play-off hopes.
The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to make an impact at Celtic, and it’s unclear what the future holds for him at the moment. He is definitely a highly talented player and sometimes a change in environment can do wonders.
Playing on the left wing, he has been arguably West Brom’s best player in 2024. He has been a huge threat from the flanks and has turned into a prolific goalscorer as well. Signing him permanently should be one of Corberan’s priorities next summer irrespective of where they play next season.
Celtic will demand a high transfer fee for him, especially after a successful loan stint. Johnston clearly has the talent to shine in this division and possibly in the Premier League as well, and getting him on board permanently would represent a statement signing from the Baggies.
