Tomoki Iwata is the Celtic cover star as Brendan Rodgers opens up on Mikey Johnston transfer future

Japan international has been asked to fill a number of positions for the Hoops and Rodgers has thrown down the gauntlet to him

Brendan Rodgers reckons Tomoki Iwata has been invaluable as a cover star for Celtic this season.

But whether the Japan international can become a regular in a midfield soon to be packed with Hoops poster boys again remains the big question. Iwata has started the last five games in what’s been his most sustained run of action since Rodgers replaced Ange Postecolglou at the helm last summer. Saturday’s 3-1 win over St Johnstone that saw Celtic return to the top of the table was his 18th appearance of the campaign.

And the manager insists he’d have had more had it not been for niggling injuries curtailing his flow earlier in the season. Iwata has proved to be a valuable addition in the absence of Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate and anchored the midfield again against Saints, keeping it simple in possession but also providing a threat further forward. The 26-year-old had one effort hacked off the line and another brilliantly saved by Dimitar Mitov before he somehow headed over the bar from just two yards out late on.

He has also shown his versatility by deputising in the centre of defence on occasion under Rodgers and Postecoglou. But with McGregor and Hatate due back after the international break and Matt O’Riley continuing to be a first pick in the middle then it begins to look ominous for the Japan international as the season turns the final corner into the home straight.

Even if he’s not starting games though, Iwata will continue to play an important role with his all-round ability in a ferocious title battle. Rodgers said: “With any player, it’s about getting a run in the team. He’s come in and done well in games when we have either moved Callum up or he hasn’t been available.

“That’s what he has been, a cover player for the squad. He’s done a really good job when he has come in. I’ve been really pleased with Tomo.”

Asked if he can become more than a cover player Rodgers continued: “There’s that opportunity there for every player. I can’t play both him and Callum as controllers. Well, I could do, if I switched the system. But he is definitely an important member of the squad.

"Not everyone can be a starter all the time. There are a number of players who do that. But in terms of the impact he has made, I’ve been really pleased because he has struggled with bits of injury on and off this season. He would have played more games if he had been fit.

“There were periods when he was going to play in some of the Champions League games but he wasn’t quite ready. I’m just pleased he’s done well when he’s come in.”

One man who spent the first half of the season on the fringes but is now making himself a first pick is Mikey Johnston - on loan at West Brom. The winger has nabbed six goals in 10 games, including seven starts, at the Hawthorns to have Baggies fans begging their club to make his deal permanent in the summer.

Rodgers has been delighted with the 24-year-old Ireland international’s progress in the Championship, even if the pressure in the West Midlands doesn’t match that in the east end of Glasgow. And revealed he put the brakes on a loan move earlier in the season.

He said: “Brilliant. I’ve said before about Mikey’s talent. He has been here a long time. Listen the shirt is a different weight of shirt when you leave here. But Mikey has always shown the talent.

“He has had a number of years where he has picked up lots of injuries and he needed to get a run of games. I spoke to him in the summer when he was looking to go on loan and I said stay and get your training right because you’ve not had a period of training consistently never mind playing games.

“He was able to do that then he featured in some games for us and once he trained and featured it was then about getting him game time. He has gone and done fantastic and shown the talent everyone knows he has. Hopefully he continues with that and then we can look at it again in the summer.”

Whether that means another loan or a permanent move out of Parkhead after 16 years associated with the club remains to be seen. But Rodgers certainly isn’t for shutting the door on a player he knows has the ability to light up Parkhead on his day.

He said: “Mikey's 24 years of age now, he’s not a baby, he is a boy who wants to play. He has lots of talent and you’ve seen that going down into the Championship. He’s scored some fantastic goals but it’s not a surprise. You see him in training and he has that ability.

“It’s all about the consistency and being fit and available. He’s shown that now over this part of the season and hopefully continues till the end of the season at West Brom.”