Max Johnston on Allan Campbell's Motherwell tips as he plots path to Premier League stardom

Max Johnston knows precisely the level of dedication it will take to break the big time.

He saw it EVERY morning at Motherwell when bumping into early riser Allan Campbell. Johnston thought he’d show off his committed streak as a teen hopeful by arriving long before training time for extra work. But he NEVER beat Campbell into the gym before the rest of his colleagues.

Campbell, 24, is on the brink of cracking the English Premier League in his second season at Luton Town. He has helped the Hatters make Saturday’s Wembley play-off final against Coventry. In-demand Johnston could be next for a breakthrough move away from Lanarkshire. And he knows following the example set by “wee Al” was one of his smart ideas. The 19-year-old said: “He was always the hardest worker in training. He was really good with me, really dedicated. Wee Al was a great example to me at that age. Look how far he has come on. I’m delighted for him –everyone at the club is.

“We all talk about how well he’s getting on. That pushes all the young boys who can think: ‘He’s done it, so why can’t I?’

“There are never any shortcuts. You just need to dedicate your life to it and work extremely hard. That’s what wee Al has done.

“When I was 16 I’d come in really early because I wanted to make a good impression. Wee Al would always be at the gym already. I’d be thinking: ‘What time does he come in? And when is he actually waking up?’

“I’d get in about half eight for a 10am start and he’d STILL be in before me. I always remember that because it made me think: ‘This is the day I’m going to be first in.’ And it just never happened. I reckon he just slept there.”

Johnston has scooped the SFWA Young Player Of The Year award after a stunning second half of the season