West Brom head coach James Morrison has disclosed that Mikey Johnston missed the game over Burnley due to an ankle injury, rather than any rumoured interest in him.

The Baggies have taken maximum points from two challenging opening games, following up on their opening-day away success at Norwich City with an excellent 3-1 triumph against recently relegated Burnley on Sunday.

What’s more impressive is that they accomplished both without last season’s creative outlet, Mikey Johnston.

Despite West Brom’s general troubles, the Irishman had a significantly better season at the Hawthorns last year. Only Gus Hamer, Sorba Thomas, and Leo Scienza had more assists than Johnston, who missed the entire late-season surge due to an ankle ailment.

Championship assist ranks in 2025-26

Pos

Player

Assists

1. Gustavo Hamer.

12

2. Soraba Thomas

11

3. Leonardo Scienza.

10

4. Mickey Johnston

9

And it was the injury that prevented him from making the team against the Clarets, rather than a potential move away.

James Morrison discusses Mikey Johnston’s absence during Burnley’s triumph.

On Sunday morning, it was claimed that Derby County were aiming to boost their creative options by making a move for both Ipswich Town’s Anis Mehmeti and Johnston, making the latter’s omission from the Baggies squad a bit alarming.

Morrison, West Brom’s manager, took quick to put any speculation about the two to rest, explaining why the 27-year-old missed out entirely on Sunday.

“No, that is far from it. According to the Express & Star, Morrison stated plainly, “He has a knock on his ankle.”

The paper also claims that the linkages between Derby and Johnston are incorrect. The Irishman was at the Hawthorns on Sunday to encourage his colleagues and has already been part of squads this season.

Johnston came off the bench against Rotherham United in the EFL Cup two weeks ago and was an unused replacement against Norwich on the first day. He appears to be a part of Morrison’s plans, but the injury he sustained at the end of last year is still bothering him in some ways.

How West Brom fans responded to Derby County’s interest in Mikey Johnston

Baggies fans may breathe a sense of relief now that they know why Johnston was absent on Sunday. They had previously rejected the thought that he would go after the rumours surfaced yesterday.”Hands off @dcfcofficial or else,” one West Brom fan wrote on X. “Surely we don’t sell this late on?” another inquired.

Derby have already secured the signing of experienced midfielder Alex Mowatt from West Brom this summer, but the general consensus is that he should be the sole player moving from the Hawthorns to Pride Park.

With the Irishman almost leaving for Brazilian club Flamengo for £5 million last summer, Baggies fans would find it extremely difficult to accept a divisional switch for anything less after his recent season.

Mikey Johnston would give a resurgent West Brom an enormous creative boost.

Isaac Price filled in for Johnston on the left wing late last season and has done so again this year. He was named Man of the Match on Sunday after scoring two second-half goals to help secure all three points.

While the Northern Irishman has performed admirably on the left, there is no question that once Johnston has fully recovered from his ankle problems, he will take his place, allowing Price to operate from a more attacking midfield position.

There is a lot of confidence and excitement surrounding West Brom under James Morrison right now. It’s only two games, but they’ve demonstrated enough to suggest that the 10-game unbeaten streak during his interim term was not the result of a long new manager bounce.

The former Baggies wideman is proving to be a hit in the dugout, and right now, you can’t blame players for wanting to stay at the Hawthorns and contribute to what he’s developing.

That appears to be the case with Johnston, who will undoubtedly play an important role for West Brom once he is fully healthy.