Carlos Corberan has full faith in West Brom loanee

Johnston’s stunning opener was another wonderful strike, to add to a beauty against Plymouth, and the skilful winger has already become popular among supporters.

Corberan felt Johnston’s ability to wreak havoc both wide and centrally was perfect for his squad. The boss said: “I believe a lot in Johnston because when we analysed him I watched a player that switches very well to the idea of wingers I like to have.

“I think it’s important to have two different winger profiles, wide wingers – (Tom) Fellows or (Jed) Wallace or (Matt) Phillips for example, or wingers who can play inside, like playmakers.

“Depending on opponent’s shape is the advantage, more as (inside) playmakers or more out wide. Grady (Diangana) and Johnston, for me, both have the profile.”

Johnston was in and out of Celtic’s side this term with some injury issues earlier in the campaign but was a more regular fixture shortly before asking boss Brendan Rodgers for a January loan switch in search of more regular game time.

Rodgers demanded more from the academy graduate in December, when he said: “Mikey needs to do more, that is the reality. He’s not young. He is 24. At some time you need to grab the bull by the horns and be aggressive. It can be easier coming off the bench, it doesn’t feel like pressure.

“You can come in and show your qualities. If any player wants to be starting here you have to have that personality to come in and play.”

The winger penned a one-year extension on his Hoops deal in 2022, which runs until 2026.

Albion currently lack experienced available strikers and winger Jed Wallace once again led the line against the Sky Blues.

Johnston and Grady Diangana, operating slightly deeper, struck the Baggies’ goals against City.

Corberan said of his attacking options: “I think Wallace playing as a striker depends on the context of the game. He is not a target striker, but he is very useful in the press to make runs behind into the box. He showed in the last week when he hit the post he can make good movements.

“We played with Wallace, who in my opinion is a ‘winger-striker’, Johnston and Grady that are ‘winger-playmakers’ and Fellows who is a specific ‘winger-winger’.”

Albion’s Spanish head coach identified that some attacking players who operate out wide have the potential to play a more centre-forward role and used Villa top scorer Ollie Watkins as an example.

“Not every one, it depends on the profile of the winger,” he said on wingers’ ability to play up front.

“I remember playing against Ollie Watkins, now at Aston Villa, and (before) he was a winger, now he is one of the important strikers in the Premier League.

“Sometimes the players adapt to needs of the position because they have the skills to adapt.”