Celtic have been dealt a major blow with Alistair Johnston a major injury doubt for Celtic’s Champions League play-off against LASK Linz.
Johnston was withdrawn at half-time during Sunday’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock after feeling a niggle.
Celtic assistant Shaun Maloney said afterwards that the decision had been precautionary, but the situation now appears more concerning.
According to SunSport, Johnston could be facing another spell on the sidelines, potentially ruling him out of both legs against LASK.
That would be a significant blow for Martin O’Neill at exactly the wrong time.
Celtic host the Austrian side in Glasgow on Wednesday before travelling to Austria for the return leg on Tuesday, August 25. Those two matches will have a major say in the shape of Celtic’s season.
Johnston’s fitness situation is further complicated by interest from Everton, who have been looking at the Canadian as they consider their options at right-back.
Celtic were already fighting to hold on to the 27-year-old for the crucial European qualifiers. An injury could now take that decision out of O’Neill’s hands regardless of what happens on the transfer front.
Johnston endured a difficult time with injury last season, missing the majority of the campaign with a serious hamstring problem.
He eventually returned to play his part as Celtic clinched the title before going on to feature prominently for Canada at the World Cup.
Johnston then started Celtic’s opening two Premiership fixtures of the new season, seemingly putting those previous fitness problems behind him.
Sunday’s early withdrawal at Rugby Park has changed that picture.
The fact that Celtic took no chances with him at half-time made sense with the LASK tie looming. The concern now is that what initially looked like a precaution could cost him the play-off altogether.
If Johnston is unavailable, O’Neill will have to turn elsewhere at right-back.
Colby Donovan and Anthony Ralston are the obvious options in the squad, with one of them likely to be asked to step into a tie carrying considerably more weight than an ordinary domestic fixture.
Johnston’s energy and experience on the right have made him an important part of Celtic’s side when fit.
Losing him for either leg would weaken O’Neill’s options. Losing him for both would leave Celtic without one of their established starters for two of the biggest matches they will play in the opening months of the campaign.
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4 responses
There’s no point in Celtic hanging on to a player prone to regular injury. Johnston should be sold and replaced with a more robust player. He missed so much of last season, and now he’s on the sick bed again at a time when Celtic really needs him to be fit and ready for action. No club can put up with that, although I have a feeling that this could be related to the modern madness of over protecting players as soon as a niggle arises in a joint. Get him into his kit and on the park!!
He’s definitely injury prone and I think he’s also got his eyes on a big money move.
If so ,I say thanks and good bye. Don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out.
You’ll regret it the same as countless others.
HH
Who actually said he’s going to be out for a few games and what us the problem – the last I heard was that he felt a niggle and was taken off a precaution?
Blacksox,
It will be one of those “sports scientists”, or whatever they’re called, whose made the call to wrap him in cotton wool for about 2 months. Once upon a time, players with “niggles” had to simply don the kit and play through the pain barrier. Not now; they’re all valuable commodities who can’t be risked due to the financial implications. It’s ridiculous what money has done to football.