Celtic must turn Alistair Johnston’s injury setback into Champions League motivation, Martin O’Neill says.
The defender is expected to miss around two months after tearing his hamstring in the season opener at Kilmarnock. The injury has also scuppered a reported move to Everton.
Johnston played through the pain barrier but was forced off before half-time after feeling the problem. O’Neill said: “It is a blow. He put himself out for us to play the game and it probably stopped him from getting to the Premier League.”
The Celtic manager said Johnston had already shown strength after recovering from surgery for an earlier injury. O’Neill said: “He was injured when I came in last October and needed surgery, but he was remarkably upbeat.”
The manager added: “I spoke to him after the news and he shrugged it off as if to say, ‘That’s life’.”
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O’Neill said the latest prognosis was for a return in October, which was later than first expected. He said: “The prognosis is for October for him. It’s a couple of extra weeks than we first thought.”
Johnston had appeared to be fit after playing the opening match of the season. O’Neill said: “He felt it before half-time at Kilmarnock, but it felt like more of a precaution, so the results of the scan are really disappointing.”
The Celtic boss now wants his players to give Johnston an incentive for his return by beating LASK Linz.
Victory would secure Celtic’s place in the Champions League, providing a target for the Canada international during his recovery. O’Neill said: “We’ll see how it goes. He’s a strong character.”
The manager also said he did not know whether Everton would renew their interest in Johnston.
