Alistair Johnston admits his physicality is core part of his Celtic identity as he lifted the lid on his skirmishes so far.
The Canadian has been bullish in his play since arriving from CF Montreal in January in a deal worth around £3.5million. Johnston was the replacement for Croatian star Josip Juranovic who left for Union Berlin in the same month. The 24-year-old was thrown in to the deep end against Rangers at Ibrox days after signing and seemed keen to get stuck in for Ange Postecoglou's side.
Since then the defender has not been shy in challenges, interceptions and big moments but was less-than stunned to see captain Callum McGregor take on the same mantra against Rangers last weekend. The Scotland international was involved in some handbags with Gers star Nicolas Raskin and Johnston says as he watched the clash unfold he thought 'that's my job'.
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On his physical presence, he said: "It's the foundation of my game to a degree. You have to have technical ability to be playing at this level. But if you take away my desire and my competitiveness I'm not nearly the same player as some of the guys.
"I know what I need to bring if I want to play for Celtic. It's part of me, it comes back to my family, my childhood - growing up in a family of three boys where I was the middle child and everything was a competition, a battle.
"In sports too, playing hockey. It's a huge thing for us growing up in. Canada. We love to hit people and get in to it but its also about camaraderie. If you hit one of my players, one of the most skilful guys, its my job to go and back them up.
"You could see it with the national team, we've brought on that identity. I try to bring that to Celtic. You can see it with Cal [McGregor].
"I think in the last match I got knocked over and I turned around and he was already in there pushing someone for me and I was like 'Mate, that's my job! Get out of there'"
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