ALISTAIR JOHNSTON is ahead of schedule in his comeback bid after missing the last four games.
However, the Celtic right-back admitted he “feared the worst” after being stretchered off in the first leg of Celtic’s ill-fated Champions League stalemate with Kairat Almaty at Parkhead on August 20.
Johnston was diagnosed with a hamstring problem and it was first believed the popular Canada international would be ruled out of Brendan Rodgers’ first-team plans until November.
The 26-year-old defender was relieved to be told the injury did not require surgery and he is now pushing ahead in his plans to return as quickly as possible.
HAPPIER TIMES…thumbs up from Alistair Johnston as Celtic seal their fourth successive title with the 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice in April.
Johnston said: “When the injury originally happened, I feared the worst, but it’s still a pretty significant injury.
“I’m actually ahead of where I thought I was going to be, but still a long way to go. I’m not really going to put a timeline on it just yet, I’m just kind of taking it day by day.
“Honestly, I feel really good, and that’s almost the hardest part of the full thing, is that I feel like I’m ready to go out there and play, but I know there’s still a lot of boxes that need to get checked before I can get back to my full level.
“I’m just taking it day by day but hoping to be back in a nearer future than probably originally expected.”
Johnston was bewildered at the injury that saw him carried off only 34 minutes into the European encounter against the Kazakhstan side with Anthony Ralston deputising.
The fans’ favourite, speaking to the Park The Bus podcast, continued: “Kieran Tierney came up to me and said: ‘Did you hear a pop?’
GREEN FOR GO…Colby Donovan is poised to play against Partick Thistle at Firhill on Sunday.
“I didn’t think so, but I’d never done a muscle before to even know if I felt or heard a pop. That’s when I was like, ‘Okay, it’s going to be serious, but, hopefully, not the worst case scenario’.
“The scan backed that up, as well.”
Johnston added: “It’s a serious injury, but it wasn’t one that needed surgery which was a massive thing, not only at the beginning of a club season, but also for the national team perspective coming into a World Cup year.
“It’s the last thing you want starting off a season, but I was lucky to a degree that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.”
Deputy Ralston missed the dramatic 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday with rookie Colby Donovan getting the nod.
The impressive youngster is now poised to take the No.2 position when the holders face Partick Thistle in the Premier Sports League Cup-tie at Firhill on Sunday afternoon.
