GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 20: Celtic's Alistair Johnston celebrates during a Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Semi-Final match between St. Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park, on April 20, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has revealed that Alistair Johnston is facing two months on the side-lines due to a torn hamstring.
It is the third time in a year that the defender has had a similar injury.
Last season he pulled up with a hamstring on August 20 during the first half of the match against Kairat Almaty.
Johnston returned against Sturm Graz on October 23 but ended up requiring surgery on his hamstring, returning to action on April 25 against Falkirk.
Johnston cut an impressive figure during five matches at the World Cup Finals which sparked transfer concerns among Celtic fans.
O’NEILL DELIVERS THE BAD NEWS WITH JOHNSTON HIT BY RECURRING INJURY
His final World Cup appearance was on July 4, on August 3 he played 90 minutes as Celtic opened the SPFL with a home win over Dundee.
Now after 45 minutes at Kilmarnock Johnston is facing another spell on the side-lines.
Discussing Johnston the Sun reports the Celtic boss saying:
It is a blow. He put himself out for us to play the game and it probably stopped him from getting to the Premier League.Â
We’ll see how it goes. He’s a strong character.
He was injured when I came in last October and needed surgery, but he was remarkably upbeat.
I spoke to him after the news and he shrugged it off as if to say, ‘That’s life’.
Of course he’ll have time to think about it. I don’t know if Everton will come back in.
The prognosis is for October for him. It’s a couple of extra weeks than we first thought.
It was a bit of a surprise because he played the opening game of the season and felt OK.
He felt it before half-time at Kilmarnock, but it felt like more of precaution, so the results of the scan are really disappointing.
Due to an extended international break Celtic don’t have any matches between September 20 and October 10.
Celtic now have something of a dilemma at right-back.
Colby Donovan was outstanding last week against LASK but will only turn 20 next month.
Whether he is ready to cover and compete with Donovan is a decision for O’Neill.
The transfer window closes at 5pm on September 3.
Tony Ralston is also an option but at times last season dropped to fourth choice right-back.
Donovan seems likely to start tonight’s match away to LASK as Celtic attempt to return to the Champions League.
Last week the teenager didn’t look out of place in the toughest test of his career- until tonight.
Whatever the outcome tonight Celtic face a week of concentrated transfer activity as they attempt to avoid the issues that dogged last season.
The same last year – injured, expected to be back in October, then injured again for the next 6 months. I think Ralston is acceptable in Scotland, but short in quality against better opposition. We can’t trust young Donovan and expect Tierney to play twice a week till February.
We need a proper cover at left back, right back and centre back. We need a new keeper and at least one strong midfielder, if not two.
But today we are rallying behind the team to get the job done in Austria!