CELTIC have suffered a backlash to the decision to allow crocked Alistair Johnston to join up with Canada during the international break.
The right-back has not featured since limping off in the 2-1 Europa League win over Sturm Graz at Parkhead on October 23 last year.
The experienced defender had just come back after a hamstring strain that cut short his participation in the Champions League exit to Kairat Almaty in August and eventually forced the player to undergo surgery in a bid to rectify the problem.
The 27-year-old full-back was expected to play at some stage in the crucial seven-game league run-in, but that hope looks to have ended after Johnston pulled up in a training session with his Canadian team-mates as they prepared for World Cup warm-ups against Iceland and Tunisia.
HAPPIER TIMES…Kasper Schmeichel, Alistair Johnston, Greg Taylor and Viljami Sinisalo celebrate Celtic’s 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Aoril 26 2025 that sealed the fourth successive title. What a difference a year makes!
His return has now been placed on the backburner as Martin O’Neill, preparing his squad for tomorrow’s must-win encounter against Dundee at Dens Park, admitted: “Alistair has had a wee bit of a setback.
“He went away with the Canadian national side, was doing some running and had a bit of a setback on his final day of training, which was really disconcerting for us.
“It has delayed things a little bit here.”
Despite the blow, the Hoops interim gaffer remains hopeful he will figure before the conclusion to a trying campaign.
O’Neill, speaking to the Scottish Sun, added: “Don’t hold me to this, but there must be a fairly good chance that he will play here before the end of the season.”
On-loan Julian Araujo is also back at Bournemouth as he goes through rehab and it looks it as though it will be a straight choice between Anthony Ralston and Colby Donovan for the No.2 position when the champions visit Tayside for the second time in a fortnight.
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