So, it is about how quickly you can adapt and set yourself, no matter where you are in the goal. As a goalkeeper, you are not going to be in the perfect position to make a save a lot of the time. 'In the Premier League, everything is about power and pace. 'We worked on his power in the box and doing things quickly,' Walsh explains. He was ready for the Premier League long before that, in Walsh's view, but five of their six seasons together were spent in the Championship, where Johnstone honed his craft.
'It is a difficult place to leave but that time comes.' Johnstone had 10 loans at seven different clubs before departing in 2018. Walsh forged a connection with Johnstone partly because of their shared experiences. Image: Gary Walsh and Sam Johnstone pictured together at West Brom in 2021
