Alistair Johnston is now a major injury doubt for Celtic’s Champions League play-off against LASK Linz, in what could be a fresh complication for Everton’s pursuit of the Canadian right-back.
Johnston was withdrawn at half-time during Celtic’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday after feeling a niggle, with assistant Shaun Maloney describing it as precautionary at the time.
According to the Scottish press, Celtic now understand he could face a spell on the sidelines — a blow for both the player and Martin O’Neill with LASK visiting Parkhead on Wednesday and the return leg in Austria six days later.
It’s an awkward time for it to surface. Johnston had started Celtic’s first two Premiership games of the season amid Everton’s continued interest, having missed much of last season with a serious hamstring problem before returning to help the Hoops win the title and starring for Canada at the World Cup.
Everton’s move for him had already stalled over valuation — Celtic want a fee north of £15m, with Everton’s opening offer of around £12m plus add-ons rejected — and the club have made clear they have no intention of letting him go before the LASK tie is settled, regardless.
Given his recent history with hamstring problems, this is one to watch closely from an Everton perspective — an extended spell out would hand Celtic even less incentive to negotiate, and Moyes even less certainty over fitness before committing any money.
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