Alistair Johnston is getting closer to a return, and the timing could suit Celtic. The right-back has been missing in recent weeks, which has forced a few changes down that side. Others have stepped in, but it’s not quite the same when a natural full-back isn’t there.
Martin O’Neill spoke after training and gave a positive update. Johnston is back out on the pitch and working his way towards full fitness, although he still needs minutes in his legs before he’s fully ready.
There’s also the question of the international break. Canada want him involved, but Celtic may prefer he stays and keeps working at Lennoxtown rather than travelling.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “He’s doing really well. He’s really, really doing very, very well indeed.
We need to have some sort of bounce games or something like that there for him to play in here as soon as possible.
So that’s big news for us if he can come back for the part of the run-in anyway.
I’m hoping that wouldn’t be that long afterwards, really.”
Celtic have coped without him, but there have been moments where that side hasn’t flowed as well. The overlap isn’t always there, and that can slow things down when the ball is worked wide.
Defensively, he also brings a bit of calm. He deals with balls into the channel and reads the play early, which helps when games turn into a battle. Tannadice can be that kind of place.
If he’s back soon, it allows O’Neill to settle the defence again. That has a knock-on effect further up the pitch, where players don’t need to adjust as much to cover.
For now, it’s about getting him through training and into some sort of match action. There isn’t much time to ease players back, but Johnston looks closer now than he did not long ago.
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