Mika Baur has backed Sam Johnstone after his impressive Celtic debut as Martin O’Neill faces a major goalkeeper decision ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ibrox.
Johnstone was handed his first appearance for the Hoops in Wednesday night’s 1-0 victory over St Johnstone, replacing Viljami Sinisalo in goal at McDiarmid Park.
The 33-year-old marked the occasion with a clean sheet and produced a crucial save during a difficult opening half for Celtic.
With the game still goalless, Johnstone reacted superbly to keep out a close-range effort and prevent the hosts from taking the lead.
Baur, who went on to score the only goal of the match after the break, knows just how important that intervention proved.
He said: (RecordSport), “He was incredible. In the first half, the save he made was so important.
“It would be a different match if they scored in the first half and also in the second. He did a great job, and we’re so happy to have him here.”
Johnstone also dealt comfortably with much of what came his way throughout the evening as Celtic maintained their perfect Premiership start.
His performance has now handed O’Neill an interesting call before the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers.
Sinisalo had started Celtic’s opening five league matches of the season before Johnstone was given his opportunity in Perth.
There was no suggestion that the change was made because of poor form from the Finnish international, with O’Neill keen to create genuine competition between his goalkeepers following Johnstone’s arrival from Wolves.
Johnstone could scarcely have done more with his first chance to impress.
His save helped keep Celtic level during their most difficult spell of Wednesday’s match before Baur struck seven minutes into the second half to secure all three points.
O’Neill must now decide whether to stick with Johnstone for one of Celtic’s biggest games of the season or restore Sinisalo after giving him a night out of the starting XI.
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