Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie feels Hoops loanee Mikey Johnston is "ready for a new chapter" in his career and would be better moving on from the Parkhead side.

The Republic of Ireland international is currently on loan at Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes until the end of the season.

He is under contract with Ange Postecoglou's men until the summer of 2025 but McAvennie feels it is time for a change for the forward.

"It will be League One or the Championship (for Johnston. If he is doing well maybe they will take him in Portugal.

"He will look at Lewis Ferguson doing really well in Italy, Aaron Hickey used to play in Italy.

"He will have a look at them and think ‘maybe that is my way to get full-time football’.

"It might be a new chapter for him. I have said he has got to leave because he has been there for too long and he has not established himself.

"Ange is a football guy, he would not want anyone to sit on the bench."

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McAvennie also reckons it is time for January signing Tomoki Iwata to get a run in the team.

Since joining from Yokohama F Marinos, the midfielder has made the majority of his appearances from the bench, outside of the recent start away to Ross County.

And the former Scotland international feels Iwata should be featuring more.

"I think the manager is doing well, bringing him in and out but I think he is ready to flourish now," he continued.

"As the manager said, there is more to come from him. He uses both feet, sprays the ball all over the place.

"He is different from Hatate, where Hatate runs forward Iwata just sits and lets McGregor be in his normal position.

"I would love to see Iwata, Hatate and McGregor in the middle moving forward."

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