Bruce Gives Johnstone Thoughts

Manager Steve Bruce has been giving his thoughts following the loan capture of Manchester United youngster Sam Johnstone this January window.

Meeting with the media for his pre FA Cup press conference, there were obviously some questions about his first capture for the club and why in particular he wanted Johnstone for the goalkeeping department.

Speaking to the Official Site Bruce described Johnstone as being one ‘of the best young goalkeepers’ in the country and he was obviously delighted to have captured him.

‘He is one of the best young goalkeepers in our country. It was a couple of years ago that him and Jordan Pickford were the talk of everyone. Pickford has gone on to play in the first team – and have a run in the first team. Sam has found it a bit more difficult because of David De Gea.’

He went on to say.

‘We have Gollini who is young himself. Johnstone is young but Gollini is 21. I must thank Jose Mourinho for letting me bring him here. He`s the just the type I think can improve it and help us get where we want to get to. Steve Round and Tony Coton have worked with him – and spoken very highly of him. He wants to get some games under his belt and when you`re a goalkeeper there`s only one position you can play. I am delighted he`s here. With the horrible injury to Jed Steer, it wasn`t healthy to have two goalkeepers. He will bring a cutting edge to the other goalkeepers – they need that too. He`s an excellent acquisition.’

Bruce was also asked whether or not he’d be thrown into the mix this weekend in the third round tie against Tottenham Hotspur and he said he simply hadn’t made his mind up given he’s only just come into the club and only had a few training sessions with the team.

He is eligible to make his debut though.

‘He has only trained on Thursday so far so I have it in my mind ‘is he ready for Sunday?` Is that fair on him? Or do we let him train with the boys and get used to his surroundings for the next 10 days ahead of Wolves a week on Saturday. I will see how he is and see what he thinks. Whether I throw him in against Spurs…I am yet to decide. But certainly I have brought him here to play. But he has to play on merit – we all understand that.’

With him with us until the end of the season, Johnstone has now been handed the No 34 shirt for the rest of the campaign.