ALISTAIR JOHNSTON is aiming for a happy ending to his season of woe.
The Canada international right-back has seen this campaign ravaged by a persistent hamstring problem that has required surgery and two lengthy lay-offs.
The defender limped off early in the 2-1 Europa League win over Sturm Graz at Parkhead on October 23 – and hasn’t figured since.
Johnston has missed THIRTY-FIVE consecutive games, but hopes to be able to make an impact after the Premiership title split.
RARING TO GO…Alistair Johnston speaks to Celtic TV in July as the popular Hoops defender looks forward to the new season.
The 27-year-old fans’ favourite is currently involved with his nation’s squad, but he will not feature in either of their World Cup warm-up outings against Iceland and Tunisia.
Looking forward to being involved in the conclusion to a tumultuous campaign, Johnston said: “In an ideal world, I would like to be back in time for the split.
“I think that’s a realistic target, but, at the same time, none of us is writing anything in stone. I don’t have an exact date.
“I have tried to do that in the past and you almost set false expectations for yourself and the coaching staff. We will all take it week by week.
“My fitness is coming along. It was difficult for me when I re-injured it from a medical and a mental standpoint. I am happy with how it is coming along. I feel strong and now it’s just about building up.”
Johnston, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “The plan is to get a couple of good weeks’ training and hopefully get a friendly game, which would be set up when I get back.
HAPPIER TIMES…Alistair Johnston celebrates with Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn after Celtic’s 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice in April last year that sealed the fourth successive title.
“So I will be looking to kick on with the tail end of the season in Scotland and, ideally, lift a couple of trophies and be ready to go for the World Cup.
“When you do two months of individual sessions on your own, you are just desperate to kick a ball.
“I only trained a couple of times with the Celtic first team last week, so it has been great to be in a training session and be around the guys.
“I just have to be smart about the hamstring because it’s such a finicky muscle and no matter how good you feel you still have to give it time. It’s one of those ones that gets to 90 per cent pretty quickly and that can trigger you into a false sense of security.
“I want to get back as quickly as I can, but the most important thing is when I come back, I want to stay back.”
The former CF Montreal full-back added: “Having been out for that long, you do get that itch to get back to help, but I have learned my lesson from the first time, where I probably pushed myself a little too quickly.
“I’ve done it before and we have already made a bit of a mess of this season in terms of this injury and I just don’t want it to recur.
“I’m still trying to get used to the hamstring after surgery because there are a lot of pins and needles sometimes! But all the testing has been good and it’s about listening to the doctors.”
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