Celtic rocked by huge injury setback as Martin O’Neill delivers bad news

Celtic rocked by major Johnston setback as title hopes take another hit

Celtic FC have been dealt a serious blow in their title pursuit, with Alistair Johnston now set for a longer spell on the sidelines after suffering a setback while on international duty.

The right-back had been closing in on a return after surgery, with hopes he could feature in the coming weeks. However, those plans have been thrown into doubt following an issue picked up during training with Canada.

Manager Martin O’Neill admitted the situation is a frustrating one:

“Alistair has had a bit of a setback… it’s delayed things. We were hoping to have him back soon, but this is a shame.”

The timing couldn’t be worse for Celtic, who are already without Julián Araujo, leaving them short of options at right-back. Anthony Ralston and Colby Donovan are now expected to carry the load during a crucial run-in.

Johnston had only recently returned to training, with a cautious plan in place to ease him back into action. His trip to join Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad raised questions at the time—and now, in light of this setback, that decision is under increased scrutiny.

With the title race slipping and performances under pressure, this is more than just an injury concern. It raises serious questions about decision-making behind the scenes at Celtic.

At a time when stability is needed most, the Hoops instead find themselves facing fresh uncertainty.