MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 27: Celtic's Alistair Johnston celebrates as he scores to make it 2-0 during a William Hill Premiership match between Motherwell and Celtic at Fir Park, on October 27, 2024, in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Brendan Rodgers expects Alistair Johnston to be available to play in Sunday’s League Cup Final.
The defender was substituted at half-time during the 0-0 draw away to Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday and was missing from the slot on training opened up to the media this morning.
That heightened concerns that Johnston would miss out on Sunday’s match but it seems that he will be involved in training this afternoon.
From his Friday media conference The Herald reports Rodgers saying:
The squad is healthy – we expect Ali [Johnston] to be okay. He was out on the pitches this afternoon, so we should have everyone fit and available.
Johnston, alongwith Kasper Schmeichel and Callum McGregor has been a constant starter over the last month while Rodgers’ has shuffled his squad to cope with the volume of fixtures.
A Tuesday to Sunday fixture run gives the Canadian additional time to recover from the hip knock that he suffered in the 35th minute, playing on until half-time.
If fully fit Johnston will start Sunday’s match but current Scotland first choice Tony Ralston is on standby having plenty of experience of Hampden already this season.
We will need the team at full strength on Sunday let’s hope Alistair makes it.