'I don't understand it' - Celtic hero questions medical staff as solution suggested for injury-prone star
Recurring issue struck again in Sunday’s 2-1 Premiership victory over Hibs
Celtic legend Neil Lennon thinks right back Alistair Johnston needs to be sidelined for a ‘prolonged period’ in future when returning from injury.
The Canada international returned to the grass for the first time since August in Celtic’s 2-1 weekend Premiership victory at Hibs. However, after coming on for stand-in Colby Donovan in the 52nd minute, his comeback was short-lived, as substitute Johnston was the taken off himself 20 minutes later for Cameron Carter-Vickers. The bizarre situation indicates that perhaps the 28-year old hadn’t fully recovered from his hamstring injury.
In terms of injury setbacks for the defender, this isn’t his first rodeo. Johnston also missed a large chunk of last season due to multiple hamstring issues and hasn’t gotten a run of games under his belt yet under manager Martin O’Neill. Lennon now wonders if this is because he’s been thrust back into the side too early.
Lennon questions Celtic medical staff after another Johnston setback
After the Easter Road triumph, pundit Lennon told Sky Sports: “I don’t understand it. This isn’t the first time this has happened to Alistair, so I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes. “You know, the medical team, the fitness team and the coaching team have felt that he is fit to play some part in the game – but quite clearly that has not been the case.
“For me, Martin obviously can’t diagnose it straight away and what the damage is – if there is any – that has been done. I doubt it’s a psychological thing, knowing Alistair Johnston, he is obviously feeling something is not right. I don’t know if he needs a prolonged period. Hamstring injuries are such a difficult one to get right – the rehabilitation right and the timing right – you can do it again. If this is a reoccurrence if the same injury then that is a real, real worry for the player.”
What did O’Neill say about Johnston’s injury post-match?
The Hoops boss confirmed Johnston was taken off because of another hamstring issue. He said: “He (Johnston) felt something at the top of his hamstring, a wee bit higher than before, which might be encouraging, I don't know. We'll obviously have to wait to see the scans and things he gets here, which I assume he'll get either later tonight, perhaps maybe tomorrow, and we'll assess it.”
“He's obviously disappointed there, 15, 20 minutes, and you saw, even in that little period of time, you saw what he's capable of doing, both defensively and getting forward. It would be a big blow to him, a big blow to the club, if it's a hamstring injury. He thinks it might be, never know, it might be cramp. I genuinely don't know. That's coming from him.”