Celtic’s fragile title challenge has been dealt another blow, with Alistair Johnston now appearing to be ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a major setback while training with Canada.
The right-back had been working his way back from surgery and was edging closer to a return. There was cautious optimism he could feature against Dundee on April 5, or at least play some part before the split. That hope has now been wiped out.
Hoops boss Martin O’Neill told SunSport: “Alistair has had a wee bit of a set-back.
“He went away with the Canadian national side, was doing some running and had a bit of a setback on his final day of training, which was really disconcerting for us.
“In the wider scheme of things, for the length if time he’s been out, hopefully it’s not too bad.
“But it has delayed things a little bit here.
“We were hoping to have him in a couple of weeks, maybe having played some bounce games.
“That will just have to be parked and put to the side for the moment.
“It’s a shame.
Instead of returning to Glasgow ready to rejoin the squad, Johnston’s recovery has taken a significant step backwards. The timing could hardly be worse with Julian Araujo also out of action.
Johnston had only recently returned to training at Lennoxtown after months on the sidelines. The plan, initially, appeared straightforward. Build him up carefully, monitor his progress, and avoid the kind of rushed comeback that had already caused issues earlier in the campaign.
Yet despite that, he was allowed to travel to Canada and link up with Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad.
At the time, it raised eyebrows. The expectation was he would train, not play, and continue his recovery in a controlled environment. Now, with this setback, the decision looks far more questionable.
Celtic could not afford to take risks.
The right-back position was already stretched thin. Julian Araujo’s injury has left Martin O’Neill relying on limited options, with Anthony Ralston and Colby Donovan tasked with seeing out a crucial run of fixtures. Neither offers the same balance Johnston brings, both defensively and going forward.
This latest development removes any chance of stability in that area.
More broadly, it feeds into growing concerns around decision-making at the club. Supporters will rightly ask why a player in such a delicate stage of recovery was permitted to travel internationally at all. The margin for error was minimal. Celtic needed certainty, not gamble.
With the title slipping further out of reach and performances failing to convince, this is not just an injury blow. It is a moment that will spark serious questions about how the club is being run behind the scenes.
And right now, Celtic do not have many answers.
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