West Brom: John Swift weighs in on Mikey Johnston, Karlan Grant dilemma

West Bromwich Albion midfielder John Swift says Mikey Johnston will have to wait for his chance to get back into the team after his return to the club due to the form of Karlan Grant.

West Brom suffered heartbreak as they were beaten by Southampton in last season’s play-off semi-finals, but they have made an excellent start to the new campaign.

The Baggies secured their fourth victory in five league games with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday, with Josh Maja’s strike and a double from Alex Mowatt sealing all three points.

Albion currently sit top of the Championship table, and their start to the season is particularly impressive given that they were operating under an EFL-imposed business plan during the summer in order to avoid a breach of the league’s financial rules.

Despite the restrictions they faced, the Baggies still managed to bring in 11 new players during the transfer window, and arguably their standout bit of business was the permanent signing of Celtic winger Mikey Johnston for a fee of £3 million.

John Swift makes Mikey Johnston, Karlan Grant admission

Johnston enjoyed an outstanding loan spell at The Hawthorns last season, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in 20 games, but it looked as though Albion were set to miss out on his signature after Sheffield United agreed a fee of around £2.5 million for the 25-year-old.

However, the Baggies eventually managed to beat the Blades to Johnston, and he made his first appearance since rejoining the club as a late substitute in the win at Portsmouth on Sunday.

Given his strong performances during his loan spell last season, many Albion supporters would have expected Johnston to go straight back into the team, but Corberan is facing a dilemma over whether to start the Republic of Ireland international or stick with Karlan Grant, who has scored one goal in five appearances this campaign after returning from his loan at Cardiff City.

Swift has built up a good relationship with Johnston in recent months, and the pair watched Celtic’s 3-0 win over Rangers together earlier this month, but he warned his team-mate he may need to wait for his opportunity to start due to Grant’s form.

“Everyone knows how important he was when he came in,” Swift told Birmingham Live.

“He’s a great guy around the place, he gets on with everyone. He needs to wait for his chance, because KG [Karlan Grant] is doing really well at the minute. It did seem unlikely he was going to come back, from the outside for the players, but once it got closer it felt like it was actually going to happen.

“He went to [Jayson] Molumby’s at 2am, so that was a nice message to wake up to. I think he’s in a hotel at the minute, looking for a place. I wouldn’t have him at mine!”

Mikey Johnson headache is a positive for Carlos Corberan

Swift was linked with a move to Middlesbrough in July, with Albion said to have been open to selling him this summer, but he remained at The Hawthorns, and he admits he has been surprised by his side’s remarkable start to the season.

“Inside the changing room we knew we were strong, but to start how we have…I don’t think anybody expected it,” Swift said.

“I’m 29 now, so every season you have come to expect that you won’t see the same faces around the whole time. Some players have done really well, got some good moves, but there’ll always be change. You get used to it. By the time the window closes, everyone is concentrating on the games anyway.

“The majority of the squad is fit now. Having quality on the bench to come on and change the game is a massive plus.”

Swift is right that Johnston may need to wait to break into the team, and the competition for places is a welcome dilemma for Corberan.

While the Baggies did reach the play-offs last season, the lack of depth in the squad was evident at times, but that is not a problem that Corberan faces this time around.

Grant has impressed since being brought back into the fold this summer, and having played a crucial role in Albion’s excellent start to the season, it will be tough for Corberan to drop him.

Given the significant fee the club paid for him, it seems likely that Johnston will eventually be a regular starter for the Baggies on the left, but he will know he needs to deliver if he is to keep Grant out of the team.