Celtic's Alistair Johnston Sidelined Until October
Celtic have been dealt another defensive blow, with manager Martin O'Neill confirming that Alistair Johnston will be sidelined until October.
The 27-year-old Canada international was forced off at half-time in the second game of the season against Kilmarnock, a worrying sight given he missed most of last campaign with a hamstring problem. A fresh scan has now confirmed those fears: Johnston faces yet another extended spell out.
"There was definitely something there, and I think the prognosis is really that it will be some time in October for him," O'Neill said, speaking before Celtic’s Champions League play-off second leg away to LASK.
Defensive gap exposed
Celtic spent the summer sharpening their attack and have been heavily linked with midfield reinforcements, but Johnston’s setback drags the spotlight back onto a back line that already looked thin.
"If you consider that Kieran [Tierney] is essentially our only left-sided full-back, we'll have a little look," O'Neill admitted, underlining the lack of depth in key defensive areas.
He was clear, though, that the European tie takes precedence over any late transfer scramble.
"I really will not concentrate on anything at all until after the game, regardless of what the result is or whichever competition we happen to be in," he said. "We've got some days before the transfer deadline [3 September], and I hope that we will get some people in."
For now, Celtic must make do with what they have. Colby Donovan, just 19, has stepped in for Johnston and caught the eye in the 3-0 first-leg win over LASK at Celtic Park, showing composure and energy in a high-stakes environment. Scotland international Anthony Ralston offers another option at right-back as O'Neill shuffles his limited pack.
Market moves on hold
O'Neill played down any immediate progress on reported targets, insisting there was "nothing further to report" on links with Slovan Liberec’s Ermin Mahmic or Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis.
The manager also pushed back on the narrative of a squad gutted by departures.
"I was told some weeks ago that we'd lost 14 players and we'd only replaced them with two at the time," he said. "But I think the whole thing was balanced out. There were some of those players that we took on loan, that were going to be leaving anyway, weren't going to be coming back. And it was a matter of trying to get a little bit of quality in."
That word – quality – is clearly driving Celtic’s recruitment.
"I think that we could fill up the squad if you wanted to, with loads of names," O'Neill continued. "But it was a bit of quality that we were looking for because that eventually would be, I think, of paramount importance between now and January."
For Johnston, the wait goes on. For Celtic, the clock ticks towards 3 September, with a Champions League place to secure and a defence that still needs surgery before the window slams shut.
