Denny Johnstone

Early career

Born in Dumfries, Johnstone joined the youth system at local club Queen of the South at the age of eight until he joined Celtic as a 13-year-old. With Celtic, he scored the opening goal in the under-19s first match in the 2012–13 NextGen Series at home to Sporting Lisbon, while he also contributed to Celtic winning the Scottish Premier under-20 League, and scored with his first touch of the ball to confirm their Scottish Youth Cup victory by beating Dunfermline Athletic's under-20s 3–1.

Celtic's qualification for the group stages of the 2013–14 Champions League meant that their youth team would play in the UEFA Youth League, in groups that mirrored those of the senior team. Johnstone scored against Barcelona's youth team, and produced a good performance playing as a lone striker in a 4–1 win against Ajax. He felt that the competition had improved his understanding of the game, and that, having been an unused substitute for Celtic's first-team, he though himself ready for first-team football, or perhaps a loan. Writing in his Scottish Sun column, Des McKeown suggested that Celtic's determination to win every competition they enter, at whatever level, hindered the progression of youngsters out of the youth teams. By the end of the season, Johnstone had made no senior appearances, and he rejected the offer of a new contract. He was attracted by a move to Dundee United, but the clubs were unable to agree a compensation figure and Dundee United pilled out of any deal because of the uncertainty involved with a fee set by tribunal.

Birmingham City

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Johnstone trained with English Championship club Birmingham City, where Alan Thompson, with whom he had worked at Celtic, was development coach. It was reported that Birmingham tried to persuade Celtic to accept a large sell-on clause instead of a fee, but by 30 July, their budget had stretched to an acceptable figure and Johnstone signed a three-year contract. He made his professional debut on 19 August 2014, replacing Wes Thomas after 81-minutes of the 2–2 draw with Ipswich Town.

Macclesfield Town loan

Johnstone joined Conference Premier club Macclesfield Town on 27 November 2014 on loan for a month, having scored four goals in seven development squad matches. He made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 defeat at Barnet on 29 November, and scored his first goal on his fifth appearance, six minutes after coming on during the 5–1 win at Alfreton Town on 20 December. Despite his loan being twice extended, first to 7 January 2015 and then until the end of the season, he was recalled by Birmingham on 2 February, the final day of the transfer window, and loaned to League Two club Cheltenham Town for the rest of the campaign. Cheltenham had wanted to secure the player on a permanent contract, but Birmingham would not sell. He had scored three goals in nine Conference appearances for Macclesfield.

Cheltenham Town loan

Johnstone made his Cheltenham Town debut on 7 February 2015 in their 3–1 home defeat to Burton Albion. He scored his first Football League goal after 24-minutes of his third appearance, with Cheltenham already two goals behind at home to Bury on 14 February. The score remained 2–1 to the visitors. He was recalled by Birmingham in early March, after scoring once in five league appearances.

Burton Albion loan

On the final day of the loan window, 26 March, Johnstone joined League Two leaders Burton Albion on loan until the end of the season. He made his Burton debut on 3 April, playing the first hour of a 1–1 draw away to Plymouth Argyle. In Johnstone's third appearance, after Carlisle United took an early lead, he needed lengthy treatment following a clash of heads, but was able to return to the field, only to score an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time from a goalmouth scramble. He was an unused substitute in Burton's last match of the season which confirmed them as League Two champions. He made five appearances for Burton.

Greenock Morton loan

Johnstone joined Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton on 31 July 2015 on loan for the 2015–16 season. Birmingham included an option to recall the player in January. He made his debut the following day in a 5–0 defeat of Elgin City in the League Cup, back-heeling Morton's second goal and showing "good hold-up play and an ability to bring others into the play". Johnstone helped his side to fifth in the Championship table, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and providing six assists to his teammates.

Colchester United

League Two club Colchester United signed Johnstone on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee on 28 June 2016. He made his debut for the club as a second-half substitute for Chris Porter in Colchester's 1–1 draw with Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on the opening day of the 2016–17 season, before scoring his first goal from the bench on his home debut in a 2–0 win against Cambridge United on 13 August. He was ruled out for the remainder of the season having made 32 appearances and scoring two goals after tearing knee cartilage during Colchester's 2–1 defeat at Accrington Stanley on 18 February.

St Johnstone loan

In August 2017, Johnstone moved on loan to Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone. He made his club debut as an 81st-minute substitute in St Johnstone's 1–1 draw with his former club Celtic.

International career

Johnstone has represented Scotland at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.

He made his international debut for the under-16 team against Jersey on 24 August 2010 in a 3–0 International Challenge Match win for Scotland. He made four appearances for the under-16 team, scoring once against Northern Ireland.

Johnstone first appeared for the under-17 team on 12 January 2011 in a 1–0 win away to Malta. He scored once in 10 appearances at under-17 level in a 2–1 defeat to Croatia.

He played just one game for the Scotland under-18 side, a 1–0 defeat to Israel in April 2013.

Johnstone first represented Scotland at under-19 level on 6 February 2013, scoring in the 2–1 defeat to Netherlands. He scored twice more for the under-19s, the only goal against Belarus on 12 October 2013, and a goal in the 1–1 draw with Germany three days later. He made nine appearances for the under-19s.

Career statistics

Personal life

Johnstone's great-grandfather was the East Fife and Queen of the South Scottish League international footballer Bobby Black, and several other members of his extended family played football professionally.

Johnstone attended St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch, as a beneficiary of the partnership between the school and Celtic.