Of course, poor recruitment has been the key reason behind Celtic's generally miserable season, but one cannot overlook the impact of major injuries. Star centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers has not been seen since rupturing his achilles tendon in October, while Jota has been absent since sustaining a serious cruciate ligament knee injury at Tannadice all the way back on 26 April.
Neither are forecast to be back any time soon, but another long-term absentee could play his part in the Premiership title run-in. On Friday, Alistair Johnston was spotted in training at Lennoxtown, a sight that will have delighted every Celtic supporter.
This comes a day after the 27-year-old was included in Jesse Marsch's Canada squad for their friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia in Toronto later this month. Given that the Canucks are co-hosting this summer's World Cup, Johnston will obviously be desperate to be available by June.
Before then, he will need to get some club minutes into his legs, and could be a key figure for Celtic who have eight Premiership fixtures remaining, as well as a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren.
So far this season, Johnston, once a mainstay of this Celtic side, has racked up only 329 minutes across five appearances due to two severe injuries.
Alistair Johnston's Celtic appearances in 2025/26
- 3 August. Celtic 1-0 St Mirren. Scottish Premiership - 90'.
- 10 August. Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic. Scottish Premiership - 88'.
- 15 August. Celtic 4-1 Falkirk. League Cup second round - 90'.
- 20 August. Celtic 0-0 Kairat. Champions League play-off - 35'.
- 23 October. Celtic 2-1 Sturm Graz. Europa League league phase - 26'.
Johnston's first injury came during the infamous Champions League play-off defeat to Kairat in August, suffering a serious muscle tear while sprinting. He was then seemingly rushed back by an under-pressure Brendan Rodgers, we'll never know for certain, unexpectedly starting against Sturm Graz in October out of nowhere, but exacerbating the injury early on, thereby not seen since.
In his absence, perennial back-up Anthony Ralston and teenager Colby Donovan had been deputising, before the instantaneously popular Julián Araujo arrived on loan from Bournemouth in January. The signing of the Mexican suggested the club did not expect Johnston to be back any time soon. As impressive as Araujo has been, Celtic will certainly improve with the Canadian in the backline.
Celtic's Premiership record with vs without Alistair Johnston
Statistics | Record with Johnston | Record without Johnston |
|---|---|---|
Matches | 80 | 45 |
Wins | 64 | 27 |
Draws | 9 | 9 |
Defeats | 7 | 9 |
Points-per-game | 2.51 | 2 |
Since Johnston's arrival in January 2023, Celtic have remarkably won 64 of the 80 Premiership matches in which the Canadian has featured. This includes winning seven of the eight post-split fixtures he has played in, drawing the other, that the memorable 1-1 against St Mirren on trophy presentation day last May, when James Forrest famously pinched a point.
Of the nine games they have lost without him, seven have come this season, and there are numerous factors behind this, albeit the absence of their best right-back is obviously one of them. So, while Sunday's trip to Dundee United is likely to come too soon, although you never know, it will actually be helpful for Martin O'Neill that Johnston could feature for Canada during the international break.