MIKEY JOHNSTON could be forced to sit out Celtic’s qualifying campaign for the Champions League group stages.
The left-sided raider missed the action during the three-game trip to France due to his persistent calf problem.
The exciting Scotland Under-21 international wasn’t involved in the recent friendly wins over Ross County and Hibs at Parkhead and the immediate future looks bleak for the player.
Boss Neil Lennon admitted last week that Johnston was set to see a specialist in a bid to overcome the injury, but the tricky raider is now expected to be out until September, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
The first Euro qualifier is on August 18/19 — with the second round a week later.
If Lennon’s side progress, they will play a third qualifier on September 15/16 before a two-legged play-off later that month.
Johnston, who will also struggle for the Scots’ Under-21s’ clash with Lithuania on September 8.
The 21-year-old forward has suffered with injuries over the past two campaigns with Lennon struggling for options in the left-sided attacking area.
Mohamed Elyounoussi filled the void until he suffered a broken foot on Norwegian international duty in November and struggled to pick up speed until February before football came to a halt a month later due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Wingers Scott Sinclair, Lewis Morgan and Daniel Arazani have left Parkhead since the turn of the year and there are still question marks over Ukrainian flanker Marian Shved who made only three substitute appearances last season.
