Player Preview #6 - Michael Johnson

ANOTHER graduate of Manchester City's famed youth academy, Michael Johnson was one of the hottest prospects on the Premier League scene before his career was blighted by a series of injuries.

His first City goal came under the reign of Sven-Göran Eriksson in a 1-0 victory on the first home game of the 2007-08 campaign against Derby County. That would prove to be Johnson's best season for the club, making 23 appearances.

However, mid-season, he suffered an abdominal injury which kept him out for a few months, but he returned in February 2008 and saw the term out. After a promising start to the next campaign, a recurrence of the abdominal injury against Brighton and Hove Albion in a Carling Cup tie would see the midfielder sidelined for the rest of the season.

Since then, the 23-year-old has made just two appearances for the club, one in the league against West Ham United, the other in a 5-1 victory over Scunthorpe United, in which he scored the fifth goal.

|Image courtesy of mcfc.co.uk|

Sadly, in December 2009, Johnson suffered a serious knee injury in training which would keep him out for the remainder of the season. He has failed to make an appearance for the first team since, and has stated that he would like to leave the club on-loan in order to regain match fitness.

Now, he has been left out of the City team for the tour of the U.S this month, along with several other first team players who are expected to leave the club. Emmanuel Adebayor is one of the biggest names left behind by Roberto Mancini, and there is no secret of his desire to quit the FA Cup winners this summer.

It would be a shame to see a player of Johnson's calibre leave, especially having seen him come through the ranks. Had he been able to remain fit, he may have had a crucial role to play in the future of the club, but, as it is, he may find himself shipped out by Mancini in order to make way for a less injury prone player.

Once labelled as 'the next Colin Bell', the Platt Lane graduate is loved by City fans for his surging runs from midfield and his ability to pick out a pass with consummate ease. Hopefully he will be at the club for years to come and enjoy the success with the fans. It would be great to see him back out on the Etihad Stadium pitch once more.