Alistair Johnston’s comeback from a hamstring injury lasted all of 21 minutes in Celtic’s gritty 2-1 win over Hibernian, reigniting major concerns after a season plagued by the same issue. Manager Martin O’Neill confirmed the Canada right-back “felt something again” after his substitute appearance was cut short at Easter Road, a real kick in the gut for fans hoping for his full return.
Hamstring Nightmare Continues for Johnston
This is just brutal to watch unfold. Johnston, 28, has been battling hamstring problems for ages, missing most of last season and then being sidelined again since early August with a recurrence. You gotta feel for the guy, right? To get back on the pitch only to feel that familiar twinge again after just 21 minutes, that’s just heartbreaking. O’Neill isn’t sugarcoating it either. He told BBC Scotland, “We’re not sure just at this moment. When you’ve had a couple of hamstring problems, I think that your concern is anything you might feel is a bit of a niggle. I don’t know. He’s not sure, neither is the doctor at this minute. He’ll obviously need a scan and we’ll see how he is.” That sounds like a big question mark looming over his season, and honestly, it’s exactly what you don’t want to hear when you’re trying to push for the top.
A Much-Needed Boost on Defense
But hey, it wasn’t all bad news! While Johnston was heading back to the sidelines, we saw some truly positive stuff. Central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers got through the final 17 minutes of the game after subbing in for Johnston. This is HUGE. The United States defender had been out since mid-September himself, so getting him back, even for a short stint, is a massive relief. O’Neill echoed that sentiment, saying, “Of course, we need every single body back. He seems to have come through the game OK. Delighted that the big players are back.” You can feel the relief in that statement, can’t you? Carter-Vickers is a vital piece, and having him back on the pitch is a big win, especially with the fixtures piling up.
Restoring the Lead and Looking Ahead
Despite the Johnston setback, the boys still got the job done with a 2-1 victory at Hibs. Camilo Duran bagged the winner, following Jason Kerr’s own goal that leveled things up. It was a crucial bounce-back after that tough 2-1 home Europa League defeat to Celta Vigo on Thursday. This ninth Scottish Premiership win out of 10 restored Celtic’s four-point lead at the top of the division, which is exactly where we need to be. O’Neill wasn’t shy about how important this win was, calling it our “best win of the season,” even though we “didn’t play particularly well.” He said, “Absolutely delighted with it. Considering the circumstances, considering the conditions today and considering what has happened on Thursday, I thought this was our best win of the season and we didn’t play particularly well in the game. It was even better than last Sunday.” He even admitted Easter Road is “really difficult.” Next up, Dundee United visit Celtic Park on Wednesday, with three more fixtures before the next international break. We need to keep this momentum going, especially with more key players hopefully getting fully fit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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