Max Johnston has reaped reaps rich rewards from lower league loans
They will then be able to move freely between their parent club and a club further down the pyramid system who a cooperation agreement has been struck with during the course of a campaign.
Read more:
The move was one of the main recommendations contained in the Transition Phase paper which Andy Gould, the SFA's chief football officer, and Chris Docherty, their head of men's elite strategy, published last year.
Johnston, who help Graz to retain the Bundesliga in Austria last season and also played in five games in the Champions League league phase, believes leaving Motherwell on loan was invaluable for his own development.
(Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group) The 21-year-old, who is hoping to win his second cap for his country in the friendly international against Iceland at Hampden tomorrow night, spent the 2021/22 season at Queens, where his father Allan was manager, and the first half of the 2022/23 campaign at Cove.
The right back, who made his debut for the national team in the first leg of the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Greece in Piraeus back in March, thinks that playing regular first team football in the Championship improved him as a footballer and ensured he was able to cope after his move abroad in 2023.
Read more:
"I still say it, I think that's some of the best decisions I've ever made,' he said. 'I was extremely lucky that my dad was at Queen of the South and he took me on loan when I was 17.
'I'm just so grateful that I got that chance to play and experience and learn these little details that have helped me kick on today. It doesn't feel that long ago still, but football changes very quickly, so you just need to keep a level head and enjoy it while you can.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Who will win Rangers vs Club Brugge? Our writers deliver predictions for Champions League playoff first leg
Russell Martin kicks off a massive week at home to the Belgians with £40million on the line over 180 minutes They've done battle before this summer, but this time it's serious. Club Brugge visited Ibrox for a pre-season friendly in what was Russell Martin 's first game in charge as Rangers manager. They raced into a 2-0 lead and looked like they could make things very uncomfortable for the new boss, but his men fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw. That would probably be an acceptable outcome on Tuesday night, although the risk of giving the visitors a two-goal head start is much more significant given what's a stake, so best avoided. Nicky Hayen's side showed the other side of Glasgow what they were about last season and could count themselves very unlucky to only leave Celtic Park with a solitary Champions League point after an impressive display. If that's the standard of performance, then Rangers will need to step it up if they want to bank the Euro jackpot they've seen funnelled into the Parkhead coffers only for too long now. Here's how the Record Sport team see it going. Scott McDermott This will be the biggest test of Russell Martin's Rangers tenure so far, by a distance. The Belgians are a top outfit, as they proved at Celtic Park in the Champions League last season. Their skipper Hans Vanaken will run the game if he's allowed to play and they've got real threats in attack, like Christos Tzolis. Given Gers' current form, it's difficult to see them winning and a first-leg draw might not be the worst result before a trip to Brugge. Rangers 1 Club Brugge 1 Andy Newport There's no doubt Russell Martin's team are yet to click fully into gear but they have looked their most comfortable at home in Europe. The Belgians will be their stiffest test yet but with Ibrox roaring Gers on, they can grab a result that keeps the tie alive heading into the second leg. Whether it will be enough to secure a £40million Champions League windfall remains to be seen. Rangers 1 Club Brugge 1 Gavin Berry The Belgians were class at times in the Champions League last season but don't look quite as daunting after the loss of key men Ardon Jashari, Maxim De Cuyper and Chemsdine Talbi in big money moves. Rangers need to raise their game big time but can rise to the occasion, albeit that might still only be enough for a draw. Rangers 1 Club Brugge 1 Michael Gannon Rangers have looked shaky at the back and it could really catch up with them against a team that loves to you, Brugge looked decent last term but have lost a few of their star men though and lack a bit of experience. It could be an open game and Gers can at least be alive going to Belgium next week. Rangers 2 Brugge 2 Graeme Young Decisive home wins in the earlier rounds will count for little against a Brugge side who defeated Atalanta, Aston Villa and Sporting last season in the tournament proper. Expect the Belgians to feast on errors but Martin's side have enough firepower to keep it close for the return leg. Rangers 2 Brugge 3 Scott Burns There is no doubt this will be a step up from what Rangers have faced this season. I still think they can get a result that would make it all to play for over in Belgium, but their defence has to be on the money and disciplined. Rangers 1 Club Brugge 1
Scottish Sun
2 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Yoane Wissa, 28, deletes all reference to Brentford and changes Instagram to black circle in Newcastle transfer protest
WISS-FUL THINKING Yoane Wissa, 28, deletes all reference to Brentford and changes Instagram to black circle in Newcastle transfer protest Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WANTAWAY Brentford striker Yoane Wissa has removed all reference to the club from his Instagram as he pushes for a move to Newcastle. The striker has been subject to interest from the Magpies for the last few weeks. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Yoane Wissa has deleted any mention of Brentford on his social media Credit: Getty And he was left out of the Bees matchday squad to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday after he made it clear he wants to leave. Now he has doubled down and deleted all of his Brentford-related posts on social media. And he has changed his Instagram profile picture to a black circle. Wissa, 28, has just 12 months remaining on his deal but Brentford have rejected a £30million offer from Newcastle. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL VAR YOU SURE Jamie Vardy has 'heart set' on Brendan Rodgers reunion at Celtic SunSport understands they are refusing to let the striker leave until they have signed a replacement and they are demanding £60m. Brentford were interested in Arnaud Kalimuendo but the 23-year-old has joined Nottingham Forest instead. Newcastle are expected to return with a £35m offer for Wissa, who is keen to join to play Champions League football. Eddie Howe wants him just as badly - especially after his Toon side kicked off the campaign without a recognised forward after on-strike Alexander Isak refused to play. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 3 And the Magpies' need for a new striker was evident as they failed to turn their dominance into three points as they drew 0-0 at Aston Villa. Newcastle have missed out on Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko in their so far unsuccessful hunt for a new frontman this summer. Wayne Rooney makes Premier League 2025/26 season predictions but his Man Utd tip leaves pundits shocked Isak remains intent on holding out for a mega-money move to Premier League champs Liverpool. It has led to Magpies legend Alan Shearer slamming Isak's actions. Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day, Shearer said: "There is a way to do it and Alex is not going about it the right way at all. You have to feel sorry for the players and the manager. "The players today are busting a gut for the football club, for the thousands of fans that have travelled all that way to Villa Park. They're giving their all. "Yet they're looking at another player, wherever he is, refusing to play despite having a three-year contract and on over £100,000-a-week. [The fans] are paying £60 or £70 for a ticket, £30 for petrol or a train ticket. "You can imagine the anger that they're feeling that someone is taking the liberty of saying, 'I'm refusing to play'. You just can't do that when you've got a three-year contract. "I also understand there's two sides to every story and we've never heard anything from him or his side yet, it's all leaks or reports. There is still a chance, albeit a small chance, that he could be integrated back into the team if he says sorry. "It's unlikely that that's the case, but if it gets past the transfer deadline day and there's still an impasse and no one's budging and he's still at Newcastle, I can't see a way back then." 3 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
Rhyl Journal
23 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney can leave ‘legacy' in Wales' World Cup plan
The UK is the sole bidder to host an expanded 48-team tournament in 2035 – and the Football Association of Wales has targeted two venues among the 16 stadiums planned. The FAW wants one in the south of the country – probably Cardiff City Stadium rather than Welsh rugby's Principality Stadium home – and one in the north, Wrexham's redeveloped SToK Cae Ras home. Wrexham's Hollywood owners Reynolds and McElhenney are seeking to expand the Red Dragons' stadium, with a proposed 7,750-seater Kop stand taking capacity to around 18,000. The pair – who were at the Cae Ras on Saturday to watch newly-promoted Wrexham play their first home game in the Championship – said in May 2024 that development on all four sides of the ground could lead to 'between 45,000 and 55,000 people in there'. 'The Kop development is a significant first step and the vision for the stadium is incredible,' FAW chief executive Mooney told the PA news agency. 'What Ryan and Rob are doing is amazing. They are looking to look to invest in the stadium and build up the Cae Ras, which is the oldest international ground in the world, and there is a potential North Star for them. 'The city and the club have a chance to bring a World Cup to North Wales. What a story that would be. What a legacy for Ryan and Rob to leave Wrexham.' The FAW and Wrexham held talks over the Women's World Cup last week and Wales will host the 2026 European Under-19 Championship next summer. All games will be played in the north at Bangor, Colwyn Bay, Deeside, Denbigh, Deeside and Wrexham, with the Cae Ras hosting the final. 'It's our 150th anniversary next year, we were founded in Wrexham, and the story is very powerful for us,' added Mooney, who said the FAW will launch a 10-year strategy for Welsh football in 2026. 'The impact of Ryan and Rob has been manna from heaven for us, the timing of it. 'We've been very fortunate over the last few years to get to a men's World Cup, first women's Euro, and have our young teams starting to qualify for major championships. 'That has coincided with Ryan and Rob coming in. Wrexham has already started collecting a lot of our national team players, and will produce lots of players for us in the future with their investment in youth development and Academy. 'There is a symbiotic relationship there where we can create a lot of value for each other. 'People all over the world are talking about Wrexham and that inspires partners like FIFA, commercial bodies and Governments to get involved.' The UK's formal bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup will be submitted in November and likely to be approved by FIFA next year, with all four home nations automatically qualifying for the tournament.
