In the years I have been blogging about City, the only time I ever seem to post about Michael Johnson is when news of either an injury comeback or setback hit the headlines.
Being an unabashed Johnson-ite, there is at least hopefully some light at the end of his current injury tunnel and he is sounding fairly upbeat:
"There’s no point looking back now, what’s happened has happened and all I can do is keep working hard and stay positive and that is what I am doing."
"I went down to see the surgeon for my 12 week check up just a few weeks ago and he gave me the all clear. It looks as though the surgery has been very successful.
"The graft was strong and he told me to start building up my running now and start strengthening my knee again day by day," reported Johnson.
"It’s just a matter of time, patience hard work now. If everything goes to plan I am looking at the start of next season to be hopefully joining in with training sessions again.
"I’m very positive, the timing of pre season gives me a really good target and I’m very confident that I can make it. I suppose the rest of the team can’t think about the next season yet but that’s certainly what I‘m thinking about."
It is very easy of course to talk up a player who is currently sat on the sidelines, but despite the money lavished on the squad - and the prospect of more in the summer - we have yet to bring in someone who replaces what Johnson can bring by way of the 'two-way' role seen in ice-hockey I have discussed previously. Whereas Stephen Ireland has struggled to be accomodated this season, I am certain that Johnson would have flourished playing in support of the attacking quarter we currently feature.
Regardless of when he returns (and I don't think we are seeing a recurrence of Paul Lake here) it is going to be a long road back to full fitness - by which I meant at full speed rather than merely playing again.
If Johnson can come back into the side at the level he has suggested he can reach, he will undoubtedly be an integral part of the squad no matter who arrives in the near future.