A January move could prove just the tonic with Euro 2012 in mind

Match-winning players are hard to come by in the English game and when one of them is sitting on the bench consistently, only playing twenty minutes here and there in the league, it is frustrating to watch.

With the money that has been spent at Manchester City, players such as Adam Johnson are falling further and further down the pecking order at the Etihad stadium, not only affecting his confidence but also his international chances, something that is vital with just eight months until Euro 2012.

Last season’s captain and top scorer Carlos Tevez has already fallen out with City manager Roberto Mancini and reports during last week in the press suggested Johnson had also been involved in a disagreement with the Italian before putting in a man of the match performance against Wolves in the Carling Cup, followed by another stunning goal coming off the bench against the same opponents on Saturday in the league.

With Samir Nasri, Mario Balotelli, James Milner and David Silva all seemingly above Johnson in Mancini’s head, surely Johnson could look for a January move to enhance his England chances and use the natural quality he has as he enters the prime of his career.

Johnson will not be eligible for Europe having already played in the Champions League this season, but that would not stop any of the big guns taking Johnson if he became available in the New Year.

Averaging a goal every other game this season, the wide man has not looked happy on the pitch and has failed to celebrate when he scores, furthering the suggestions of his rift with the manager after his lack of first team starts in a very competitive side.

But where could Johnson go and who could afford to bring him in? With Manchester City unlikely to want to sell to their biggest rivals in the title race, Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal could be an ideal place for the Sunderland born winger to relocate to. The style of football that is played at Arsenal is ideal for the potential of Johnson and the natural width on the left would also ideally suit Arsene Wenger’s side who are looking to mount their own attack on the top three.

With constant injury problems for Aaron Lennon and a new five man midfield system working well at Tottenham, Spurs are also a viable option for Johnson who can play on either wing and could link up well with Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart supplying Emmanuel Adebayor with inch perfect assists as they are becoming the dark horses for a title push themselves.

Steve Bruce clearly has money to spend at Sunderland, and a return to his home town club would be refreshing for Johnson after a successful breakthrough in the Middlesbrough youth system. The Black Cats have struggled this season so far but attacking flair is something that could catapult a side up the league table, plus supplying Nicklas Bendtner and Connor Wickham with his deadly crossing could be a winning combination for Bruce’s side.

In fairness any side in the league would be happy to have Johnson is their squad, but whether he gets his move away from Manchester is down to him and Mancini along with the owners coming together and wanting the best for the player, which is not sitting on the bench for 70 minutes and getting a run out in the Carling Cup.

Johnson offers more to the England side than Theo Walcott does, who seems to have cemented his place on the wing, and regular first team football will prove that to Mr Capello and his staff ahead of the Euro’s next year. The England games next month could be the deciding factor for Johnson and his agent, as if he does not feature it could be time to demand a move away from City and further his career elsewhere.

FREE football app that pays you to view ads