Alistair Johnston faces yet another spell on the sidelines.
The Herald’s Martin McMillan reports the Celtic and Canada right-back could miss up to six weeks with an undisclosed injury.
The Vancouver native was subbed off at the half of the Bhoys’ 5-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock last week. After the match, Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney, in charge of the team with Martin O’Neill hospitalized for a minor procedure, played down the severity of Johnston’s injury.
Johnston, 27, appeared in just 11 matches across all competitions a season ago with a hamstring injury that was later aggravated. He missed 57 games. The Wake Forest product is in his fifth season with the team.
Should Johnston miss the full six weeks, he would miss nine matches, including both legs of a Champions League qualifier tie with Austrian side LASK.
Complicating matters is a potential transfer for Johnston. The former CF Montreal player has been attached to Everton for much of the summer with interest from other English sides reported, as well. The transfer window closes on Aug. 31, well before a the end of a six-week recovery timeframe.
After winning their first two league matches of the season, Celtic returns to action on the weekend with League Cup play and a visit to Dundee United. They then host LASK on Wednesday at Parkhead in the Champions League qualifier first leg before returning to league action on Aug. 22 at St. Johnstone.
