Alistair Johnston is still not ready to play, but there is now a clearer idea of when that could change. Canada boss Jesse Marsch has pointed to a return in the coming weeks, with the Celtic defender already back working at Lennoxtown.

That detail matters. Johnston is no longer just rehabbing away from the team. He is back on the training pitch, building towards match fitness. That is usually the final stage before a return, where the focus shifts from recovery to sharpness.

Celtic have handled his absence carefully. The right side has had to adjust without him, with others stepping in, but Johnston’s role is not easy to replicate. He gives width when Celtic have the ball and stays tight defensively when they lose it. The timing of his runs is part of how Celtic stretch teams.

Marsch said: (Daily Record), “Neither will feature in any of the friendlies this month. They’ll train with the team and be around the group, with the hope being that they’ll return to action for their clubs in the coming weeks.

“Moise and Alistair are two that, for a long time, we have committed to having them come in and then having them be around the team.

“Which I think more than anything, was important mentally for them, but also for them to get up to speed after they’ve missed a lot of windows, so they will be coming.”

The key line is the timeline. “Coming weeks” fits with what Celtic have been working towards behind the scenes. It suggests there has been no setback and that his progress is steady.

It also explains why Canada still want him involved. Not for minutes, but to keep him connected while he finishes that last part of his recovery.

For Celtic, the focus stays simple. Get him back fit and ready for the final stretch. If Johnston returns at the level he was before the injury, it gives the team more control on that side of the pitch.

He is close now. Training again. Building up. The next step is getting him back into games.