While Johnston departed before the modern Premier League started, this was a player ahead of his time in many ways in England’s top tier, and especially in making the most of the talent that he had.
From the time he arrived in England as a 15-year-old to try out with Middlesbrough, Johnston worked hard, as writer Tony Evans, former sports editor of The Times and author of a number of Liverpool books, told The World Game.
“He’s a lovely fella,” Evans said. “He came over to 'Boro and was basically told to ‘f-off’ by Jack Charlton after his first trial.
"He then worked and worked on his game. Then he practised, practised and practised and had his own keys to the training ground.”
The South African-born star managed to make a name for himself in the north-east of England and signed for Liverpool in April 1981, shortly before the Reds became European champions for the third time. He left seven successful years later after more than 270 appearances.
“When he came, there was a sense that he wasn’t a top class player but he had energy and an attitude that everyone really liked,” said Evans.
"Despite that, moving to Europe’s top team was always going to be a challenge.
“He once said to me ‘I was the worst player in the best team in the world’ but that was not a bad thing to be.
"He always felt in the shadow of the better players and he suffered an awful lot by being a substitute.
"After away games the first team would come back and go out drinking in Liverpool as they had Sunday off. But if you were an unused sub then you had training on Sunday.
"So he often had to decide whether to go out with everyone and train with a hangover or go home and not be part of the group.
"It was hard for him being on the edge of the team and he was quite open about how he sometimes struggled mentally.”
While Johnston was unusually open, especially for the time, about the mental side of the game but he was also ahead in other aspects.
“He was one of the first players in England who started to eat properly so he had loads of energy. There was a game against Tottenham which was on television and he played really well and got great ratings and write-ups on the media.
"Everyone had been laughing as he had been eating brown rice and they had been eating fry-ups but after that game, they became a little more interested. He was always trying to think ahead and thinking of how to improve.”
It took time, however, to become a valued member of a team that was dominant at home and abroad, winning four European championships and six English titles between 1977-84.
Impressing Bob Paisley, one of the most successful coaches in football history, and successor Joe Fagan, was far from easy. Kenny Dalglish was a teammate and more appreciative of Johnston’s qualities and when the legendary Scot took the reins in 1985, it signalled a new beginning.
The Aussie would play a major part in the 1985-86 season when Liverpool became just the fourth team in English football history to win the league and cup double.
“His best time came in that season,” said Evans. “He was one of the main players and had a great year. Dalglish liked him and put more trust in him than Fagan and Paisley, and he thrived.
"His energy was crucial and while he wouldn’t call himself a natural goalscorer, he chipped in with some good goals and the one in the final against Everton will never be forgotten. He was also a great character and a popular one.”
Johnston has said that he regrets not representing Australia but to do so, according to Evans, was easier said than done.
“Liverpool didn’t really want him going on those long trips and he was struggling to get into the team and couldn’t justify it to himself either.
"He wanted to play for Australia but you can imagine what the likes of Paisley and Fagan would have thought had he gone. International travel was a little more difficult then and the club was very much against him doing it. He felt he couldn’t really.”
Over 30 years after he left, Johnston’s legacy is not as strong as perhaps it should be at Anfield.
“I don’t think younger fans remember him enough,” said Evans. “He is not quite forgotten but if you look to those teams in the eighties then he’d be pretty far down the list.
"For younger fans, he is competing with Dalglish, Souness, Rush and others so it is difficult. He had the thing with the predator boots but he hasn’t got the profile of, say, a Steve Nicol.
"He wouldn’t be regarded as an Anfield legend but he more than made the most of his ability.
“If Mesut Ozil had one percent of his application then he would be the best in the world by far.”
