In a move that feels both practical and sentimental, Manchester United are plotting a return for one of their own. Sam Johnstone, the 33 year old shot...
In a move that feels both practical and sentimental, Manchester United are plotting a return for one of their own. Sam Johnstone, the 33 year old shot stopper who once polished the benches at Old Trafford before forging a career elsewhere, is back on the club's radar. GoalZaza understands that with the goalkeeping department needing a reliable second act, the Red Devils have identified the former academy graduate as a target to bolster the ranks between the sticks.Let's not mince words. Johnstone was never the headline grabbing superstar, but he earned the tag "sensational" in certain circles for his consistent, often understated performances at West Brom and later at Crystal Palace. He knows the pressure of playing for a club that demands perfection and he knows the culture of the place. That counts for something when you are the man sitting behind the first choice keeper, expected to stay sharp for weeks and then deliver when called upon. Can he handle the squeaky bum time of a tight title race or a cup run His experience suggests yes.But there is a deeper tactical element here. United have struggled for years with the lack of a genuine squad goalkeeper who can step into the low block and still distribute calmly under pressure. Johnstone, technically sound and commanding in his box, offers that. He is not coming to displace the number one, but to provide senior cover and mentorship for the younger options. It is a low risk, high knowhow addition that clubs of United's stature used to make as a matter of course.The irony is rich. A player who left because he could not get a game might now return to be the man the club leans on when the first choice is injured or out of form. Football, eh It has a funny way of bringing the old boys back into the mixer. If this deal goes through, expect a quiet but thoroughly professional presence in the dressing room, exactly what Erik ten Hag needs as he builds depth for the long haul.
