West Bromwich Albion have confirmed that midfielder Mikey Johnston will miss an "extended period" of Championship football after suffering a further setback with his ankle. The club's director of medical, Tony Strudwick, has admitted he cannot put a "specific timeline" on the 27-year-old's return, which is the kind of language that signals this absence will be measured in months rather than weeks.
What happened
Johnston initially fractured his ankle during a Championship fixture at Oxford in February. The injury appeared to have healed sufficiently through the summer, and the club carefully managed his pre-season workload, giving him 45 minutes each against Notts County and Coventry in training fixtures, plus 25 minutes against Peterborough. He then played 30 minutes of competitive action in a League Cup tie against Rotherham United, the only outing of his season to date.
It was after that Rotherham appearance that Johnston reported pain in his ankle again. A scan confirmed a further injury to the same site. According to Strudwick, the club have now consulted two of the leading ankle specialists in the country, and Johnston is following a non-surgical treatment plan. That is a minor crumb of comfort, but it does not change the fact that West Brom are without one of their more creative midfield options for the foreseeable future.
Why this matters for the Baggies
Johnston joined Albion from Celtic in August 2024, having spent four months on loan at The Hawthorns before making the move permanent. He has made 99 appearances for the club across all competitions and has established himself as a player the squad genuinely builds around when fit. The problem, frankly, is that staying fit has been his persistent difficulty.
West Brom have started the season with genuine ambition in a Championship that remains fiercely competitive. Any long-term absentee in midfield is a problem for any second-tier squad, and Johnston's creative contribution is not easily replaced from within. The concern is not just this absence in isolation; it is the recurring nature of it. A complex ankle fracture that re-injures after carefully managed minutes is not a straightforward recovery story, and supporters would be wise to temper their expectations about when he might return to consistent action.
The broader picture
There is an important caveat worth stating plainly here. Four good games in a run, or a positive spell of form, can paper over the cracks of a depleted midfield. West Brom know that better than most. A squad that absorbs injuries without losing rhythm is a genuine promotion candidate; one that does not can find itself sliding away from the automatic places before the winter fixtures pile up.
The international break, during which this news has emerged, gives the coaching staff time to plan their midfield options without immediate fixture pressure. Whether they turn to the January window to address the gap Johnston leaves is a question that will depend partly on how long "extended period" actually proves to be. For now, Strudwick's language offers no reassurance that a return before the new year is realistic.
Johnston himself is a player who clearly wants to contribute; he pushed through pre-season carefully and took competitive minutes at the first opportunity. That commitment makes the setback all the more frustrating for him and for the club. But the medical reality is what it is, and West Brom must plan without him for the months ahead.
Frequently asked
- How long is Mikey Johnston out for West Brom?
- The club has said Johnston faces an "extended period" on the sidelines with no specific timeline given. The recurring nature of his ankle injury means a return before the new year looks unlikely, though the club has not confirmed an exact date.
- What is Mikey Johnston's injury?
- Johnston fractured his ankle in a Championship game at Oxford in February. After returning to pre-season training, he suffered a further injury to the same ankle following 30 minutes of competitive action against Rotherham in the League Cup. He is now following a non-surgical treatment plan.
- Will West Brom sign a midfielder in January to cover for Johnston?
- The club has not yet indicated whether they will move in the January transfer window, but the length of Johnston's absence could make reinforcing midfield a priority if the injury keeps him out into the new year.