CELTIC have been hit with a fresh Alistair Johnston setback with the Canadian World Cup defender facing an extended spell on the sidelines.
Martin O’Neill will now look to bring in a replacement to bolster his right-back options in the next 11 days before the deadline expires on the transfer window.
Johnston, who was replaced at the interval by Colby Donovan in the champions’ second league game of the season, the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, has been out since with a recurrence of his hamstring problem.
NOW YOU SEE ME…Alistair Johnston (extreme right) joins in with Benjamin Nygren and Camilo Duran to celebrate one of Kasper Hogh’s first-half hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock before injury struck.
The 27-year-old, a target for Everton before the injury, had initially expected to be back within a month, but O’Neill has revealed the player requires a fresh scan and could now be out for an extended period, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
Johnston missed the bulk of last season and only returned to first-team action in the crucial run-in that saw the Hoops seal a remarkable league and Cup double.
Nineteen-year-old Colby Donovan put in an impressive performance as his back-up in the team’s 3-0 victory in the first leg of the Champions League play-off victory over LASK at Parkhead on Wednesday and is likely to be in the No.2 position for the return in Austria on Tuesday.
Scotland World Cup squad full-back Anthony Ralston is also available to provide cover, but O’Neill will look at the market as he ponders his options for the way ahead.
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