Sam Johnstone

Gambit

Has signed a professional contract. Don't know if its been reported elsewhere, sorry if its already posted.

Sean_RedDevil

On his way to Scunthorpe.

MPTutd

I saw that. Is he going to be first choice. I assume it has been guaranteed that he will be.

datura

Why? He's probably just going as cover. Amos is the reserve keeper in the meantime and they may give Lindegaard the odd game.

MPTutd

Just read elsewhere that Johnstone is going as first choice as their regular keeper (Josh Lillis) is out for three months with a knee injury.

Fiskey

Just reading IanDangerously's post in the match thread vs. Wolves and thought I'd comment in here in agreement. I really think that this boy will be a challenger to De Gea long term. Although I also think De Gea is fantastic Johnstone is definitely the best young keeper I've watched coming through the ranks in my lifetime, and I expect within the next 5 years he'll be number 2 and challenging for that number 1 spot.

lysglimt

Not unless he improves dramatically when coming off the line. He is talented - I ll give him that - but he is not gonna threaten de Gea if he spaniard has a normal development.

Fiskey

I think De Gea is something special with how good he is so early. For me Johnstone is on a more normal course to becoming a very good keeper. Just comparing him to the likes of Zieler, Amos and Heaton who are all decent keepers he seems a level above imo.

Burrow

It's gonna take a hell of a lot to replace either of De Gea and Lindegaard as #1 and #2 in my opinion, though from what I've seen of him he seems like a great prospect. I can see him being shipped out on loan fairly soon though, as I think he needs to get challenged phyiscally over the next few years to really cope if given the chance in the PL.

He faces a tough task to replace either of Amos, Lindegaard or De Gea though, but obviously he got time on his side (to be fair, so does all of the other 3 aswell..)

Relevated

Only 19, still a baby.

CLK_FPC

Been on loans already to Scunthorpe and Oldham. As you've said his main problem is who he has to displace, sadly I don't see him over coming De Gea

lysglimt

Johnstone is almost poor on crosses for someone as tall as he is - even at this level when he is usually not up against 6ft3 strikers knowing every trick in the book.

He really has a LOT of work to do in that area - you can always claim that he is young and all that - but he gets it wrong a bit too often for my liking.

Elliott

Only just turned 19 too. Championship footie at 18 is rare for a keeper, he's coming along nicely.

lysglimt

Anyone know how tall he is - I remember Paddy saying something about him growing even more - and he speculated that he must be 6ft3 or 6ft4

Elliott

I'd say 1.93ish. Paddy always reckons everybody's grown.

Beachryan

Was man of the match for me today in the crucial U19 match against the Swiss.

We actually have 2 very promising players in Amos and Johnstone - wonder whether we'll keep both. Can't see it tbh - not like keepers get rotated much, and they're all around the same age as De Gea.

Sucks to say about a local lad, but could be a nice little profit maker after a great season or two on loan.

Cutch

Didn't see the game tonight but every game i have seen him he looks class.

RedPhil1957

He reminds me of Joe Hart in his attitude on the pitch - seems to have the same confident look about him - any errors are ignored and he just gets on with it.