Max Johnston’s rise from Cove Rangers to Champions League

Before Cove came a season-long loan at Queen of the South, where Johnston was managed by his dad Allan, who won 18 caps for Scotland as a player.

“I was so lucky to be able to get my first loan in the Scottish Championship,” the right-back recalls. “Obviously, my dad was the manager and that was a huge help.”

OK, but what is it really like to be managed by your old man?

“When we didn’t get the best of results, he just wouldn’t speak a word sometimes,” Johnston jokes.

“I would get in the car and think, ‘this is going to be brutal’. But it’s something I would never change. It’s a moment I will treasure forever, playing under my dad.”

Light-heartedness aside, Johnston’s spell at Palmerston opened his eyes to senior football and paved the way to first-team experience at Premiership level.

A report by the Scottish FA published in August said clubs in Scotland are failing to bring through enough young players.

Johnston’s former side Motherwell, where he is an academy graduate, are one of the few top-flight clubs who are pulling their weight.

The 20 games the right-back played for the Fir Park side in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign opened the door to an eye-catching move to Sturm Graz when his Motherwell contract expired at the end of the season.

Johnston’s decision to move to Austria in the hope of progressing his career was inspired by the likes of Lewis Ferguson, Aaron Hickey and Josh Doig, who have all benefitted from moves to Italy.

And their fellow Scot is enjoying similar success in Graz.

“I’ve seen the success of Lewis, Josh and Aaron,” he adds. “Players like that who have taken the step abroad and it’s worked out for them.

“So, that was a key part of my decision to go and try something different and just be brave and go for it. Why not? It was a no-brainer.”