Alistair Johnston has offered a small but encouraging glimpse into his recovery as the Celtic defender works his way back from injury.
The Canadian full-back posted a short video on Instagram showing himself running at Lennoxtown. The clip shows Johnston moving freely on the training pitches as he continues building fitness after months on the sidelines.
Johnston captioned the post simply: “2026 up & running.” The message was brief but the footage itself told a clearer story. For the first time in a while, the right-back looked to be stepping up the physical side of his rehabilitation.
The defender has been out since suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the season. Celtic have had to rotate the right-back role during that period while Johnston worked through recovery.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill recently gave an update on Johnston’s situation when asked about injured players in the squad. The manager explained that the defender had experienced a couple of small setbacks in recovery.
Nothing serious, but enough to slow the process.
O’Neill suggested the most realistic return could come later in the campaign around the Premiership split. That would allow Johnston time to rebuild sharpness before returning to competitive matches.
The video from Lennoxtown suggests the next stage of that process is underway. Running work usually follows the early rehabilitation phases when players begin testing the injured muscle under controlled conditions.
Johnston’s absence has been felt on the right side of the pitch. His game relies on constant movement up and down the flank. Celtic often use him to stretch the pitch and deliver early crosses when the attack moves wide.
As good as loanee Julian Araujo has been in that role, Johnston’s attacking threat and link-up play have still been missed.
The Canadian often builds quick combinations with the winger ahead of him before driving into space down the line. The prospect of both players being available during the Premiership split would give Celtic real depth in that position.
For now, the Instagram post simply shows progress rather than a return date. But seeing Johnston back running at Lennoxtown is a step forward as Celtic move deeper into the final months of the season.
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