NafisaCeltic have been handed another worrying injury concern after Alistair Johnston was forced off just 21 minutes into his long-awaited return against Hibernian, with Martin O’Neill admitting the club are concerned about the defender’s condition.
The Canadian international had only recently returned to training following a hamstring injury that had kept him out since August. His appearance at Easter Road was supposed to mark an important step forward in his recovery, but the afternoon ended with fresh questions about his fitness.
Celtic supporters had every reason to be encouraged when Johnston came off the bench in the 52nd minute to replace Colby Donovan during Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash. However, that optimism quickly turned to anxiety when the right-back was withdrawn in the 73rd minute, with Cameron Carter-Vickers coming on in his place.
And O’Neill’s post-match comments have only added to the concern.
Martin O’Neill Delivers Worrying Alistair Johnston Injury Update
Speaking to Sky Sports after Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Hibernian, O’Neill revealed that Johnston had felt something in the upper part of his hamstring, leaving the club uncertain about the extent of the problem.
“Alistair’s felt something again, a little bit high up in his hamstring. We’re a wee bit concerned about it. We don’t know,” the Celtic manager admitted.
O’Neill, however, was keen to stress that the situation remained unclear, refusing to assume the worst before the defender had been properly assessed.
“We’ll have to see. That would be a blow if he’s out. You never know, it might be cramp, it might be a number of things,” he added.
The Celtic boss also revealed that Johnston had looked impressive after coming onto the pitch, making his early withdrawal particularly frustrating.
“But he was really settling in brilliantly in the space of time that he was on the field.”
Those comments will offer supporters some encouragement about Johnston’s performance, but the uncertainty surrounding his fitness remains a major concern.
Celtic Face Nervous Wait After Another Hamstring Concern
Johnston’s latest setback is particularly frustrating given the amount of time he has already spent working towards his return.
The 28-year-old had been unavailable since Celtic’s meeting with Kilmarnock in early August, and Sunday’s appearance offered hope that he could finally put that frustrating spell behind him.
Instead, the possibility of another hamstring problem has left Celtic waiting for further clarity.
When asked whether Johnston’s previous injury troubles made the latest incident more concerning, O’Neill acknowledged the natural anxiety surrounding players returning from this type of injury.
“We’ll see. I don’t want to think about something that may not be there,” he explained.
“I’ve just spoken to him in the dressing room. Naturally, I think when you’re coming back from these particular injuries, you do have a concern about it.
“We’ll see how he is. I just don’t know at this moment.”
For now, there is no confirmed diagnosis or recovery timescale, meaning Celtic must wait before determining whether Johnston has suffered a fresh injury or experienced a less serious issue.
Colby Donovan Could Be Needed Again as Celtic Turn Attention to Dundee United
Celtic’s next Premiership fixture comes against Dundee United at Celtic Park on Wednesday night, leaving O’Neill with limited time to assess his defensive options.
Colby Donovan has been filling in at right-back during Johnston’s absence, and the youngster could be called upon again if the Canadian is unavailable.
Carter-Vickers also returned to action against Hibernian, replacing Johnston during the second half, providing another defensive boost despite the concerns surrounding the full-back.
However, Johnston’s situation is the immediate priority for Celtic, with the club hoping the withdrawal does not lead to another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
After months of waiting to see the defender return, the prospect of another injury interruption is the last thing O’Neill and the Celtic support would have wanted.
The manager has made his concerns clear, but he has also left the door open to a less serious explanation. Celtic must now wait for further assessment to discover whether Johnston has suffered another significant setback or whether his latest scare will prove to be a temporary problem.
Nafisa
