Steve Bruce has told Aston Villa’s official club website about his desire to keep Manchester United youngster, Sam Johnstone at Villa Park next season.
After a poor start to Championship life, Johnstone has kept five clean sheets in his last six games, optimised by his Man of the Match performance against Wigan. And at the age of 24, Bruce knows the goalkeeper can only get better.
Johnstone played his part in Villa’s shocking January, conceding 14 goals in his first seven games, many of which were due to his mistakes. However, recently the goalkeeper has shown why Bruce has shown unfaltering support for the shot stopper.
In Villa’s 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic, Johnstone somehow kept Aston Villa in the game with some unbelievable saves, none better than to stop Omar Bogle equalising late on.
This season, no position has been calling for improvement more than in goal, and it was thought that an experienced Championship goalkeeper would be Villa’s biggest target for the summer transfer window.
However, Johnstone has proved his quality at this level, conceding just one goal in six games. So it is not surprising that Bruce has confirmed his interest in keeping the six foot three goalkeeper for next season’s Championship charge.
If there’s an opportunity that we can get to play him more next season I would love to do it. I will be having that conversation with Mr. Mourinho when the time is right, I hope we can extend (his loan).
