Johnston, 25, made a brilliant return to Ireland’s starting XI by creating Evan Ferguson’s winning goal against Finland on Thursday night and is eyeing a place in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s lineup for the clash against the Three Lions.

It has taken a while for Carlos Corberan’s £3million star summer signing from Celtic to find his feet at the Hawthorns this season, with Karlan Grant ahead in the pecking order due to his shape and physical fitness.

But Johnston showed glimpses of the creative form of last season’s loan spell, which prompted Albion to fork out, in victory at Hull last weekend as the Baggies signed off the break with an important win to end to a streak of eight games without a win.

“It’s about me finding it,” Johnston said of his assist for Brighton frontman Ferguson. “No matter who is playing, I have to be able to spot those passes and pick out the crosses or if I go inside and get a shot.

“I feel like I could be a threat one way or the other.

“We talked about it before the game, he was in the right positions, whether I was going to show him or hang him up.

“I knew he would be there. He only needs one chance and he threw it away.”

Johnston notched a first assist of the season against the Tigers for Grant’s first game at Hull and his fine run and cross helped create the Baggies’ second assist for Josh Maja.

The former Celtic player, who shares an international dressing room with Baggies colleague Jayson Molumby, started on the left of a 4-4-2 for Hallgrímsson’s side and it was on that flank that he thrived for Albion in his final club game as well as much of last season.

Corberan tweaked his setup to place Grant in a two-man frontline with top scorer Maja, allowing Johnston to occupy the left side.

Johnston is confident ahead of a clash against England, who will play one last time under caretaker boss Lee Carsley before Thomas Tuchel takes over the role. He said: “In our form we are much better than in the past. Winning breeds confidence and I think as soon as you win matches, guys are instantly happy.

“It’s not going to be easy but of course we’re going to aim for a result.

“I could be! (In with a shout of departure) but it’s not my decision to make. Obviously I want to start, but we’ll see.”