Celtic consider defensive reinforcements after Alistair Johnston injury setback

BBC Sport reported that Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston is expected to be unavailable until October, giving manager Martin O'Neill another defensive issue early in the season. O'Neill confirmed the timetable after a scan showed that the Canada international faces a further period on the sidelines.

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Johnston, 27, was withdrawn at half-time during Celtic's second game of the season against Kilmarnock. The right-back had already missed most of the previous campaign because of a hamstring injury and returned only in late April. The BBC report did not specify the nature of the latest problem, so the confirmed position is limited to the scan finding and O'Neill's October estimate.

The setback has prompted Celtic to consider whether their defence needs another addition before the transfer window closes on 3 September. O'Neill said the club would examine its full-back options, noting that Kieran Tierney is effectively the squad's only left-sided full-back. He also indicated that recruitment discussions would wait until after Celtic's immediate European assignment.

Celtic are preparing for the away leg of their Champions League play-off against LASK after winning the first meeting 3-0 at Celtic Park. Nineteen-year-old Colby Donovan deputised for Johnston in that victory and impressed, according to the BBC. Scotland international Anthony Ralston provides O'Neill with another established option at right-back while Johnston recovers.

O'Neill said Celtic still had time to recruit and expressed hope that more players would arrive before the deadline. He reported no further development on links with Slovan Liberec midfielder Ermin Mahmic or Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis. The manager also addressed the turnover in his squad, saying he had previously been told that 14 players had departed while only two had initially been replaced.

The Celtic manager stressed that the objective is to add quality rather than simply increase the number of players in the squad. For now, Johnston's absence leaves Donovan and Ralston as the confirmed right-back alternatives, while the wider recruitment picture remains unresolved. Any further move will depend on Celtic's assessment after the LASK tie and during the remaining days of the window.