Canada World Cup star Alistair Johnston last night admitted he’s honoured at the prospect of joining Celtic.
The 24-year-old right back is closing in on a move to Parkhead as boss Ange Postecoglou continues work to bolster his squad in the January window. Having already secured a deal for Japanese defender Yuki Kobayashi, Johnston appears next in line. Talks are understood to have been ongoing and sources in Canada last night claimed verbal agreements have been reached between the Scottish champions and the player’s club Montreal FC leaving just personal terms to be concluded.
Johnston is set to win his 32nd cap for his country in tomorrow’s encounter against Croatia. But, although he insists focus remains on his Qatar job, the defender appeared thrilled when quizzed about the prospect of moving to Glasgow’s East End. Johnston said: “It’s an honour. Just being linked with them, my phone’s been blowing up
“That nearly put my phone out of commission, halfway through a World Cup. But right now, the focus is just solely on the national team.”
The right-sided defender cost his club £800,000 when securing his services from Nashville 11 months ago and has totalled 77 MLS appearances in his career. Johnston has a UK passport due to his mother coming from Northern Ireland and impressed during his country’s 1-0 midweek loss to Belgium.
With Josip Juranovic attracting attention from clubs across Europe, Celtic are braced for potential January interest. Postecoglou signalled his intent for the next window with the swift capture of Kobayashi and has made it clear he is keen for business to be done as soon as possible after confessing during the recent tour to his homeland that more deals could be in the pipeline.
Juranovic and Johnston will face off in the hours before Celtic ace Daizen Maeda takes to the field again in Qatar with feelings that starring at the World Cup has changed his life. The Parkhead attacker is still in dreamland as he gears up for Japan’s second game of their campaign against Costa Rica.
Maeda was handed a starting chance for his country and played a part in his team’s Group E opener as the Asians produced a magical comeback win over Germany. The 25-year-old admits the entire experience of featuring in Qatar has proven to him that things can change remarkably.
Maeda said: “Of course, four years ago, I never imagined that I could be on that pitch as a starting member and I ever imagined it in the past year. I really realised that my football life can change in four years and I realised that even one year can change it.
”I couldn’t believe it was me and I was in a situation where I didn’t really understand. I really didn’t imagine it at all, or even in the final qualifying, I didn’t think he would be able to participate. I didn’t know what will happen.
“It’s true that I myself don’t really feel like I’m in the World Cup that much. I think it’s a big deal when I see the reactions around me, but I’m not conscious of the World Cup. I’m playing with a normal mindset, I think.”
Maeda had the ball in the net against the Germans, but the effort was ruled out or offside. He said: “I think it’s true that we were able to gain momentum with that.”
After being subbed, the Celtic star’s replacement Takuma Asano hit the winner and Maeda added: “I was watching with the feeling that I just wanted them to win. I want to do my best to be able to do it.”
Maeda is keen that Japan build on the win and said: “I don’t think there’s any point in winning against Germany if we don’t win the next match. As a team, we know how important the next one is.”
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