West Bromwich Albion have confirmed that midfielder Mikey Johnston will miss an "extended period" of Championship football after suffering a further setback with a recurring ankle injury, with the club's medical staff unable to put a "specific timeline" on his return.

A frustrating recurrence

Johnston, 27, had appeared to be closing in on full fitness after fracturing his ankle during a Championship match at Oxford in February. The initial fracture healed sufficiently for the club to manage his workload carefully throughout pre-season, with the winger gradually building up his minutes in controlled fashion.

According to the club's website, Johnston played 45 minutes in friendlies against both Notts County and Coventry, as well as 25 minutes against Peterborough. He then featured for 30 minutes of competitive action in a League Cup tie against Rotherham United, which proved to be his only appearance of the new campaign before pain returned to the ankle.

Scans subsequently flagged a further injury to the same area. The club's director of medical, Tony Strudwick, confirmed that West Brom have since sought opinions from two ankle specialists, and that Johnston is now following a treatment plan that does not require surgery.

"It's a complex injury," Strudwick said. "Mikey had an initial fracture to his ankle at Oxford. This healed and enabled us to build him up over pre-season as part of a reduced load. But Mikey felt pain in his ankle again and a scan flagged a further injury. We have consulted two of the best ankle specialists in the country and he's now following a treatment plan which does not involve surgery."

Strudwick added that he could not place a specific timeline on the player's recovery, making it effectively impossible to project when Johnston might next feature in a Championship fixture for the Baggies.

A significant loss for Albion

The news will be a blow for a West Brom side that have made a bright start to the Championship season. Johnston joined the club permanently from Celtic in August 2024 following a four-month loan spell at The Hawthorns, and has made 99 appearances for the club across all competitions since first arriving. His direct, creative play in wide positions gives Albion a dimension that is not easily replicated within the squad, and his continued absence will inevitably stretch the head coach's options in the attacking midfield areas.

That Johnston has played only that single League Cup appearance this season underlines just how much disruption the ankle problem has already caused. The fracture sustained at Oxford in the winter brought his 2024-25 campaign to a premature close, and now the recurrence means he faces another significant chunk of time on the treatment table rather than contributing to the promotion push at The Hawthorns.

What comes next

With surgery ruled out for now, the focus at Albion's training ground will be on conservative rehabilitation. The involvement of two leading ankle specialists suggests the club are taking a careful, evidence-led approach rather than rushing the player back into contention, which is understandable given that an earlier attempt to return appears to have contributed to the current setback.

West Brom supporters will be hoping for a clearer picture on Johnston's prognosis in the coming weeks. For now, the club have simply indicated that his return remains some way off, and the priority appears to be getting the injury fully resolved rather than risking further complications by accelerating the timeline.

The Baggies have not commented on whether they intend to strengthen their options in that area of the pitch before the transfer window next opens.

Frequently asked

How long is Mikey Johnston out for at West Brom?
West Brom have confirmed Johnston will be absent for an extended period, but the club's medical director Tony Strudwick said he could not place a specific timeline on the midfielder's return from his recurring ankle injury.
What is Mikey Johnston's injury?
Johnston initially fractured his ankle during a Championship match at Oxford in February. After appearing to recover, he suffered a further injury to the same ankle following his comeback appearance against Rotherham United. The club say surgery is not required and he is following a specialist treatment plan.
How many appearances has Mikey Johnston made for West Brom?
Johnston has made 99 appearances for West Brom across all competitions since joining on loan from Celtic and then signing permanently in August 2024.