Celtic have been hit by a fresh injury setback ahead of their Champions League play-off second leg in Linz, with Alistair Johnston ruled out until October after a scan. The defender had already gone off at half-time in Celtic's second game of the season against Kilmarnock, and the latest update means he faces another spell on the sidelines.
The timing is awkward for Celtic, who travel to Austria with a 3-0 lead on aggregate after winning the first leg. The winners of the tie will go on to reach the Champions League proper, so there is still plenty at stake even with Celtic in a strong position.
What Martin O'Neill said
Martin O'Neill acknowledged the challenge created by Johnston's absence and said Celtic will need to take a close look at their options, noting that Kieran Tierney is essentially the club's only left-sided full-back. At the same time, he stressed that he did not want to look too far beyond the match itself.
O'Neill also made clear that Celtic expect pressure in Linz. He said LASK created chances in the first leg and had two goals ruled out for offside, adding that they are a formidable team and will get opportunities to attack. Even so, he said Celtic cannot simply sit back, and that is not the plan.
There was also confidence in Celtic's attacking threat. O'Neill said he felt the team were capable of scoring in the game, calling that grounds for optimism while still warning that it will be a tough night.
Why the Johnston update matters
Johnston's absence removes another established first-team option from Celtic's back line at an important stage of the season. That is why the club's defensive depth has become a talking point, especially with a place in the Champions League proper on the line.
John Collins also highlighted how efficient Celtic were in the first leg, describing their performance as clinical. With a healthy lead, Celtic do not need to chase the game in Linz, but the loss of Johnston means their squad depth will be tested in a different way.
