Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup - Final - Rangers v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - February 26, 2023 Celtic's Alistair Johnston celebrates after winning the Scottish League Cup REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Jesse Marsche has played down fears that Alistair Johnston could be facing a lengthy injury absence.
The defender was replaced midway through the first half of Saturday’s friendly victory over the USA with all reports suggesting a hamstring issue.
Instantly that raises concerns of a lengthy absence, on the eve of the Champions League getting underway a six or seven week absence can be very costly.
The good news is that the early departure was precautionary with Canadian website TSN reporting national boss Jesse Marsch saying:
He said he felt a little bit of tightness in his hamstring so he just felt it was smarter to step out.
The report added that the defender was on his way back to Celtic on Sunday where the club’s medical team can assess the extent of the injury and the expected timeline for his return to action.
While there is doubt over the fitness of Johnston his deputy Tony Ralston has two 90 minute performances for Scotland to draw on as he prepares for Saturday’s match against Hearts.
International football has plenty of critics but after being on the bench for Celtic in their five domestic matches Ralston returns to Lennoxtown with matches against Poland and Portugal in his locker.
So many scare mongers in scottish press honestly honest hard working reporters make sure what they write is from the horses mouth they days are gone it’s just hacks adding 2+2 and coming up with 5 I read Internet news and that’s as bad
The Euros are synchronized with Copa America, at four year intervals.
When following the Euros and Copa America etc; this short International break should be scrapped in Europe and Britain. Does anyone care? Fans worry about injuries subsequently affecting their players availability and performances in Home Leagues and UCL. Must be wrong. “Too much football is never enough”.