Celtic's Defensive Blow: Alistair Johnston Out Until October

Celtic have been dealt a major defensive blow with Alistair Johnston ruled out until October, just as the season begins to gather pace.

The Canadian right-back, 27, has suffered another setback after a scan confirmed fresh damage, extending a miserable run with injuries. He was forced off at half-time in the second game of the campaign against Kilmarnock, having already missed most of last season with a hamstring problem.

Speaking before Celtic’s Champions League play-off second leg away to LASK, manager Martin O'Neill cut straight to the point.

"There was definitely something there, and I think the prognosis is really that it will be some time in October for him," he said, confirming that Johnston faces another spell watching from the stands.

Defensive gaps as window ticks down

Celtic have spent the summer sharpening their attack and being heavily linked with midfield reinforcements, but the back line now demands attention.

"If you consider that Kieran [Tierney] is essentially our only left-sided full-back, we'll have a little look," O'Neill admitted, underlining the lack of depth in the full-back positions.

He made it clear, though, that nothing will distract him from the European tie in front of them.

"But I really will not concentrate on anything at all until after the game, regardless of what the result is or whichever competition we happen to be in.

"We've got some days before the transfer deadline [3 September], and I hope that we will get some people in."

Names are already swirling. Ermin Mahmic of Slovan Liberec and Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis have both been linked, but O'Neill insisted there was no movement to report on either front.

Quality over quantity

The manager also pushed back on the idea that Celtic’s squad has been stripped bare.

"I was told some weeks ago that we'd lost 14 players and we'd only replaced them with two at the time," he said.

"But I think the whole thing was balanced out. There were some of those players that we took on loan, that were going to be leaving anyway, weren't going to be coming back. And it was a matter of trying to get a little bit of quality in.

"I think that we could fill up the squad if you wanted to, with loads of names. But it was a bit of quality that we were looking for because that eventually would be, I think, of paramount importance between now and January."

So the message is clear: fewer signings, but better ones. And quickly.

Young cover, big stage

In Johnston’s absence, 19-year-old Colby Donovan has been thrown in and has not blinked. The teenager impressed in the 3-0 first-leg win over LASK at Celtic Park, staking an early claim for more minutes at right-back.

Scotland international Anthony Ralston offers another option for O'Neill on that flank, giving Celtic at least some cover while their first-choice full-back recovers.

For now, Celtic must navigate Europe and the closing days of the transfer window without Johnston. By the time he returns in October, the shape of their season – and their defence – could look very different.