Celtic to Search for Defenders as Johnston Out Until Oct

Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston will miss the rest of the season until October after a scan revealed a new hamstring issue. Manager Martin O’Neill said the club will look to strengthen the defensive line, with options such as Colby Donovan and Anthony Ralston already in the mix. The club has 12 days before the transfer deadline and is aiming to bring in quality players before January.

Johnston’s Injury Setback

Alistair Johnston, the 27-year-old Canada international, will be sidelined until October after a scan revealed a new hamstring problem. The injury first appeared during the second match of the season against Kilmarnock, when Johnston was substituted at half-time. He had already missed most of the previous campaign with a hamstring injury, and the latest scan confirms he will be out for several more weeks.

Manager Martin O’Neill confirmed the prognosis during a pre-match briefing before the Champions League play-off second leg against LASK. “There was definitely something there, and I think the prognosis is really that it will be some time in October for him,” O’Neill said.

Defensive Gaps and Potential Signings

With Johnston out, O’Neill acknowledged that the defensive area is a priority for the club. “If you consider that Kieran Tierney is essentially our only left-sided full-back, we’ll have a little look,” he added. The manager stressed that he would not focus on any transfer activity until after the LASK match, regardless of the result or competition.

Celtic have 12 days before the transfer deadline on 3 September and hope to bring in new players. O’Neill said there were no further reports on links with Ermin Mahmic of Slovan Liberec or Torino’s Gvidas Gineitis. He also noted that the club had lost 14 players and only replaced two, but that the squad had been balanced with loan signings and players who were already set to leave.

O’Neill emphasised the need for quality rather than quantity: “We could fill up the squad with loads of names, but it was a bit of quality that we were looking for because that eventually would be, I think, of paramount importance between now and January.”

Current Options

In the meantime, 19-year-old Colby Donovan has been deputising for Johnston and impressed in the 3-0 first-leg win over LASK at Celtic Park. Scotland international Anthony Ralston is another right-back option that O’Neill has on his radar.

The club’s summer transfer window saw an influx of attacking talent, but the defensive side remains a concern. With Johnston’s absence extending into October, Celtic’s search for new defenders will intensify as the season progresses.