MARATHON MAN Alistair Johnston admits he is looking forward to being a big noise for Celtic and Canada over the next 18 months.
ON THE CLUB FRONT, the right-back wants to add to his silverware collection that has seen him pick up six honours since his £3.75million arrival from MLS outfit CF Montreal in January 2023.
ON THE COUNTRY FRONT, the defender wants to play his part in preparing for the World Cup Finals 2026 which will be played in Canada, North American and Mexico.
Johnston, who enjoyed a 2-1 triumph over Hoops team-mate Cameron Carter-Vickers’ USA in the CONCACAF third-place play-off in Los Angeles at the weekend, is super motivated for the twin challenge.
The 26-year-old defender said: “Every single match now is massive when you know that our country obviously is going to be participating in the World Cup.
CROWNING GLORY…Alistair Johnston celebrates his second title triumph in Celtic’s 5-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in May last year.
“It seems like a long way away, but, realistically, it is less than a year and a half to go.
“So, all of these matches matter. And we want to make sure that we’re heading into that in the highest of highs with all the momentum behind us as a nation. It’s an important time for us.”
The Vancouver-born popular Celt has emerged as leading voice in his nation’s dressing room and, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “You start to just kind of go on the natural progression where you come in, you’re the young guy, you’re just really happy to be there and you’re taking it all in.
“Then, all of a sudden, you get some more caps in your belt and before you know it you’re looking and you’re like: ‘Oh, this is a new player, how old is he? Oh, he was born in 2007.’
“You’re like: ‘Okay, wait, I’m old now.’ And you realise that people are now looking up to you. I’ve got 53 caps, for example.
“I really enjoy being part of a leadership group that has a strong voice with our coaching staff and with the entire player pool of how we want to run things over there.
“Jesse Marsh, the Canada boss, has really empowered a couple of us guys. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed and I think that I’ve brought that back to Celtic, as well – trying to help Callum McGregor and the other older guys in any way possible.
“It’s an unbelievable time to be given that opportunity and that kind of license to take a bigger role because we’re going into a home World Cup.
“I’m lucky enough that my career even aligns with that. It’s a really exciting time to be a Canadian footballer, I’m just kind of living the dream.”
FOR MY NEXT TRICK…Alistair Johnston shows his ball-juggling skills while on international duty with Canada.
Johnston is also thriving on the pressure at Parkhead as Brendan Rodgers’ men zero in on their fourth successive title with eight league games to go and a 13-point advantage.
There is also a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone to look forward to and a win over the Perth club will open the way to showpiece showdown with either Aberdeen or Hearts at Hampden on the last day of the season on Saturday May 24.
A victory on that occasion will bring Celtic a ninth treble and see them overcome their own world record which Johnston and Co set in June 2023 when they beat Inverness Caley Thistle 3-1 to complete the clean sweep.
Johnston welcomes the strain at home and Europe for the Hoops and added: “You’re playing against the best teams in the world and then also it goes hand-in-hand with the national team.
“You’re getting that experience, playing the Champions League, playing against Kingsley Coleman, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, some of the best wingers that have graced a football pitch over the past decade.
“As a full-back, getting those experiences, seeing what those players are like and testing yourself to see, all right, how do I match up against these top, top players?
“What can I improve on and do I belong at this level? I think that’s something that I’ve definitely learned from these past experiences and I think it’s helping not only my career here at Celtic, but also the national team level where I feel really comfortable.
“We played Argentina twice last summer. I was playing the same pitches as Messi. You can see what that level is, that top, top level. It does, as a competitor, push you on and inspire you to want to play at the highest level in every single moment.
“And that’s luckily what we get here at Celtic, especially in the Champions League and national team, in those big major tournaments.
“It’s been really cool to see my own growth.”
