Michael Johnson

Peter Morrison, the former Mansfield Town and Ipswich midfielder turned football agent revealed yesterday that Simon Grayson was in attendance at a Manchester City reserve game to view the progress of Michael Johnson.

With Simon Grayson teasing fans by revealing Leeds United are all but ready to sign a new player, telling fans that we should know more by the end of the week, it’s hard not to tie the two stories together and wonder whether Manchester City are finally ready to release Michael Johnson on loan.

Johnson 22, was ready to sign a loan deal with Leeds United in January but Manchester City pulled the plug at the last second in fear that too much match time may have an adverse affect on his rehabilitation from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined for over a year.

The Manchester City midfielder stated publicly in December that if he was given the chance to go out on loan, then Leeds United would be his preference;

“You can’t pick or choose but I’ve always been a Leeds fan,”

“I’d love to play for them and a loan deal would be an ideal scenario.”

After Bradley Johnson picked up a red card during the 3-3 draw with Barnsley on Tuesday night, Simon Grayson will be desperate to get cover in before the big game away to second place Swansea this Saturday.