Max Johnston is vital to Sturm Graz as club chief tells Scotland where they can reap rewards
Steve Clarke has called up the former Motherwell youngster for the Nations League play-off showdown with Greece
Sturm Graz chief Michael Parensen believes Max Johnston’s desire to continually want to improve has been a massive factor in his Scotland call-up.
The Graz sporting director is delighted his right-back has been called into Steve Clarke’s squad for the Nations League play-offs with Greece. Johnston has been in previous Scotland squads but is yet to win his first cap.
The former Union Berlin player admitted Johnston is always doing extra work and that push to continually improve has been instrumental in him making his mark with the Austrian champions.
Parensen said: “Max has good physical attributes. “He is very fit, has a good engine and gets up and down the park.
“His pace, runs forward and delivery into the box is very important for the time of football we want to play at Sturm Graz.
“Max has become a very important player for us. He has a real professionalism. Max wants to work hard and to make himself the best he can be.
“After the training, he does his own individual programme to improve the different aspects of his game.
“I think it is now paying off for him and we along with the Scotland national team should reap the benefits.
“There has been a big improvement in his crossing and deliveries. His first touch is good and his awareness is also improving all the time. He is maturing and taking steps forward with every game.”
Johnston was first called up by Scotland for the friendly in France and was also in some of the Nations League squads.
Parensen believes Johnston has benefited from nailing down a top spot at Sturm Graz and also the Champions League exposure he got against the likes of Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Club Brugge.
Parensen claimed: “I believe Max is in a stronger position going into this Scotland squad than he was before. He is playing every week and improving all the time as a player.
“For sure, the Champions League will also have helped him. It would have been a very good experience for him.
“He was up against some top players, with different strengths from raw pace to very good dribblers, so it was a good challenge for him. He did well at the highest level and that will also have given him good confidence.”
Everybody at Sturm Graz is keeping their fingers crossed that this can be the start of what will be a long and prosperous international career for Johnstone.
His club chief stated: “It is up to Max. Our goal is to see him become a Scotland regular in their national team.
“If we can develop them into international players then it is the best outcome for all parties. You can’t guarantee anything.
“There are a lot of factors on the player’s development and what other competition there is for their international places. I am looking forward to seeing him play.
“I hope he can win his first cap and if he does well then hopefully the Scotland national coach will call him up again. It would be brilliant for Max and everyone at Sturm Graz is keeping their fingers crossed he gets this opportunity.”
The former Motherwell youngster won a double with Sturm Graz last season. He was in and out of the team but he has gone on to nail down the right-back slot.
Paresen explained: “I came to Sturm Graz last November, in the Autumn. He wasn’t a regular starter because we had Jusuf Gazibegovic in front of him.
“That player left and went to Cologne in the winter window and that opened things up for Max. He had been in and out of the team but this gave him the opportunity to play every week.
“We took the decision that we didn’t want to buy another right-back, we wanted to develop Max and give him the chance. He has played regularly and is doing very well for us.”