Adam Johnson Commits to Manchester City Until 2015

Adam Johnson has agreed a new long-term contract with Manchester City, Sky Sports News reports. The deal will run until 2015, quashing any reports of unrest or a possible January switch away from East Manchester.

Since his £7 million move from Middlesbrough in the 2010 winter transfer window, Johnson has played a total of 66 times for the current FA Cup champions, scoring nine goals.

Plucked from the Championship and into the limelight which inevitably comes with Manchester City these days, a blistering initial six months of City life saw Johnson quickly make his way into the England fold, unluckily missing out of a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad for the finals in South Africa.

Blessed with undoubted natural talent, Johnson does however have an inconsistent nature, failing to impose himself upon games for a full 90 minutes. City manager Roberto Mancini has spoken of the constant pushing of Johnson along the path to becoming a complete player.

"I have seen so many players like Adam in my life, both when I played and since I have been a manager,” said Mancini. "Sometimes players like Adam play very well in one game but only so-so the next. He should not think: 'I have scored a goal, this is enough.'

"He has played in the Premier League for two and a half seasons now and he has played for the national team. Fabio Capello and I are of the same opinion. A player like him should play well every game, like David Silva."

But despite the City manager's hard-line attitude, the determination to stamp out an impact-sub attitude in Johnson has been in order to produce a player of the highest standard. With Johnson's ability and Mancini's guidance, there is no reason why the England winger cannot become a vital part of Manchester City's trophy hunt for the foreseeable future.

Numerous talented players have passed through the doors of the Etihad Stadium in recent years, with Robinho, Craig Bellamy and Emmanuel Adebayor all shown the exit despite their on-field abilities. Mancini has acknowledged the potential of Johnson, insisting he remains firmly in the Italian's thoughts.

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I love Adam. It is like with the children in your family. If you love your children, then sometimes you should be hard with them and Adam understands this. I say what I want because, if he were not a good player, then I wouldn't waste my time on him. But because he has everything, I don't want him stopping at this level. I want him up a level and then a level more.

He has some characteristics that are different from other players and because of this he could become one of the top wingers in the game. If you have a top winger, you are going to win a lot of games. One versus one, he is incredible, every time he takes the ball out wide near the box, we can score a goal or at least have a chance.

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