Colby Donovan has burst into the limelight at Celtic.
The right-back impressed for Celtic B last season and featured for the first-team across a number of pre-season friendlies in the summer.
And Donovan has now been earning regular minutes under Brendan Rodgers as a result of injuries to Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston.
Ralston did return to the starting line-up against Motherwell on Sunday, but Donovan has done himself no harm over the last few weeks of action.
Johnston, of course, has been monitoring the progress of his right-back deputy Donovan closely, and shared what stands out the most about the kid.
Johnston hails protege Donovan’s Celtic ‘personality’
Johnston revealed that having spoken to Rodgers about Donovan, he thinks his best trait is his personality and that he has what it takes to be a Celtic player.
The Canadian told Celtic TV: “From what I’ve heard talking to the gaffer and knowing Colby, I think the biggest thing that has stuck out to everyone is his personality – I don’t ever think that was in question.
“And now that I’ve been in this changing room for the past couple of years, playing at Celtic Park, I now know what it takes and what it looks like to be a Celtic player at this point, and he looks like one. His personality, his confidence on the ball.”
Will Johnston be back for Dundee vs Celtic clash?
Speaking to Celtic TV, Johnston promised it won’t be long before his return to the pitch, but steered clear of providing an exact date.
He said: “It’s been a couple of months since I’ve been out there, but I’ve been good. I haven’t had any setbacks, which is nice.
“We’re getting close now, we aren’t going to put a timeline on it. But yeah, I’m feeling really good. I’ve got plenty of things circled in the calendar I’d like to be back for and be part of.
“We’ll just see if the body can match the mind there with that kind of stuff. It’s a massive block of games coming up.”
Rodgers told reporters recently: “Ali Johnston will join us probably the week leading into Dundee after the international break, but he is working really well.”
Whether he will be ready or not to feature in that game on October 19 remains to be seen.
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