Celtic injury update as star sets comeback timeline amid mounting problems in key area
The Celtic favourite is eyeing a return to action in the near future.
Alistair Johnston has targeted a return to Celtic action for the Premiership’s top six split fixtures after months out injured.
Right-back is quickly becoming a problem area for boss Martin O’Neill with Julian Araujo struggling with a thigh problem and Colby Donovan has dropped out of the Scotland U21s squad this week. The Canadian’s season has been marred by hamstring issues with surgery eventually required, last playing in October against Sturm Graz on Europa League duty, but a comeback could be nigh with Celtic five points off Premiership leaders Hearts.
Johnston will take the time he needs but insists a return for the final five matches of the season against top half opposition are what he’s aiming for. He said in an interview while with the Canada camp: “In an ideal world, I would like to be back in time for the split. And I think that’s a realistic target, but at the same time, none of us are writing anything in stone. But if I need an extra week, then I will take an extra week. I don’t have an exact date.
Alistair Johnston Celtic comeback latest
“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.
“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. 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 have 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 and really listen to it because it’s one of those ones that gets to 90% pretty quickly and that can trigger you into a false sense of security, which it did the first time round for me and I have learned my lesson.
Alistair Johnston on injury issues at Celtic
“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. 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, I am a pretty mature player 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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