Corberan one of best bosses I've had - Johnston

MikeyJohnston joined West Bromwich Albion on loan from Celtic in February 2024

West Bromwich Albion forward Mikey Johnston says manager Carlos Corberan has made him "a better player" after his successful loan spell at the end of last season.

The 25-year-old re-signed for the Baggies on transfer deadline day from boyhood club Celtic for a reported £3m, after making an impression on the manager during the latter half of last season.

"I want hit the ground running. I feel I improved a lot under the manager straight away. I felt that I was getting better and better," Johnston told BBC Radio WM.

"At the end of the season I knew there wasn't as much goals, but I was in the right positions, I was doing the right things. So I feel as if I can kick on from last year and be an even better player.

"[Corberan] said anything that they could do to bring me back, they would do. It makes you feel wanted and that's all a player ever really wants."

It was touch and go whether Johnston would be able to make a return to the Hawthorns as the club struggled to keep within Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules - but the Republic of Ireland winger had the option in mind throughout the transfer window.

"I thought it was an outside chance - you know the stuff with FFP and whatever," he said.

"I knew I was probably going to be leaving Celtic. The options that I did have I thought it was going to the last day anyway.

"It was quite late, genuinely, but I tried to give West Brom every chance so it was possible to come back."

Johnston scored seven goals in his 18 Championship appearances for the West Midlands club last season, some of them in such eye-catching fashion that he cemented himself as a fan favourite.

Because of his late registration, Johnston did not figure in Albion's 1-0 victory against Swansea on 31 August - but he did experience his reintroduction on home soil before the game as fans sang his name.

"It was tough to leave Celtic but it does make it a lot easier when I feel the love straight away from the fans," Johnston said.

Though Johnston claims there was a number of factors when he made the choice to come back to the Midlands, having being linked to other Championship clubs such as Sheffield United and Burnley, it is clear manager Corberan was a major draw for the forward.

"His passion is there every single day. He's one of the best managers I've had, in terms of he's very good tactically," said Johnston.

"I've learnt so much in four months, so in four more years there's so much more I'm going to learn.

"He's got so much knowledge and so much you can learn from. I'm not saying it was an easy decision, but this was the decision that I made and I feel that it's the right one."

Johnston was part of the Albion squad that lost to eventually promoted Southampton in the play-offs in May, but for this season the ambition is to make that final step into the top flight.

"I felt this was the right option for me, coming back. We've got a lot of strength in the squad and we've got a big chance for being able to get to the Premier League. Hopefully we can do that."

The mask - friend or foe?

Albion are unbeaten in the Championship this season and, perhaps as a result of being so, unchanged in their starting XI.

If Johnston is to make his debut as a permanent player for the Baggies at Portsmouth on 15 September, he will be doing so donning new headwear.

In his only appearance for Celtic since the start of the season, Johnston sustained a facial injury after a collision with an advertising board, meaning he will need to play wearing a mask - as sported by Kylian Mbappe during the European Championship - for additional protection as he recovers.

But while the French Ballon d'Or nominee seemingly struggled with the facewear, Johnston is optimistic it will not affect his play.

"It's pretty annoying to be honest, it gets all sweaty but it's not that bad. It doesn't move about or anything so hopefully it won't get in the way," Johnston said.

"I'm feeling good and ready to go."