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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Joe Donnelly

Brendan Rodgers gives Alistair Johnston injury update after Canada omission

Brendan Rodgers has provided a fitness update on Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston ahead of Saturday's Scottish Premiership encounter against Hearts at Celtic Park.

The defender was substituted at half-time against the USA in the first of Canada's two friendlies during the international break, missing the second match against Mexico earlier this week entirely.

At the time, Canada manager Jesse Marsch suggested the omission was precautionary, with Johnston having felt tightness in his hamstring.

Johnston trained on Friday with his teammates, and when asked about Johnston's fitness ahead of Celtic's return to domestic action this weekend, Rodgers said: "Jesse [Marsch] was sensible with Ali in terms of how he felt in the game. They took him off and sent him back. It was just a precaution, really. 

"He had similar going into the Rangers game. We were able to protect him and he's travelled, gone away, felt a little bit of tightness, and [Canada] managed him really well. 

"We brought him back and he's trained well." 

Celtic host Hearts on Saturday afternoon at 3pm, before then welcoming Slovan Bratislava to Celtic Park on Wednesday in the first fixture of their UEFA Champions League campaign for 2024/25.

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