It seems as though everything is falling in place for Celtic just at the right time.
Whether it’s the scintillating individual form of someone like Daizen Maeda, a rekindled connection with the returning Green Brigade or vital players finally stepping back from injury, everything is suddenly falling into place.
One of the players to return to action during Celtic’s post-split fixtures has been Alistair Johnston, who has spent the majority of the campaign on the sidelines after requiring surgery after re-injuring himself.
For months on end, Johnston was forced to watch the chaos unfold at Parkhead through the agonising lens of a helpless Celtic supporter, an experience he openly admits he struggled to endure.
Gordon Duncan: “Do you consider yourself a particularly bad spectator, in terms of how frustrating it is?”
Johnston: “One of the worst. I actually don’t understand how people do it. Going in there every match. I was living through it every single moment of it. Falling to my knees, sometimes.”
Be honest… how much have you doubted Celtic this season? 👀
Alistair Johnston expresses difficulty in watching Celtic as a fan
Scottish football will have to go a long way to repeat a season like this one because, even by Celtic’s standards, it has gone beyond anyone’s imagination.
When Johnston got injured, Brendan Rodgers was still in charge. Martin O’Neill came back for his first spell, and the Canadian star didn’t even feature during Wilfried Nancy’s nightmare spell before O’Neill came back again.
On top of that, Celtic’s starting right-back hit the nail on the head when he stated that the team ‘weren’t winning every match’ and that, when the three points were put on the board, ‘they weren’t the most comfortable of victories.’
That’s why O’Neill deserves his flowers for putting Celtic on a path where they can still win the domestic double.
Speaking to Sky Sports Football, Johnston is just glad to be back and is now trying to ‘help in any way possible’, as Celtic’s crucial fixture against Motherwell at Fir Park is nearly here.
Gordon Duncan: “Do you consider yourself a particularly bad spectator, in terms of how frustrating it is?”
Johnston: “One of the worst. I actually don’t understand how people do it. Going in there every match. I was living through it every single moment of it. Falling to my knees, sometimes.
“It was a difficult spell. We weren’t winning every match, and the ones we were winning, they weren’t always the most comfortable of victories, let’s just say that. It was quite nervy the whole time.
“But at the same time, there is no help like being on the park. We all know that. That’s something that has motivated me to get back, and hopefully, be able to play an important part in this run-in here, because I do know what I can bring to the game for our team.
“A different kind of aspect, my style of play adds to it. I also know that I am a right-back. Not a number nine that’s going to be bagging ten goals in this last month.
“But if I can help in any way possible. Also, just bring a level of comfort and confidence to the team as well when I am on the pitch. That’s something I am trying to do.
“I have seen how long this season has felt. It has felt like multiple seasons all bundled into one. At the same time, I have been injured and have hardly played, so it kind of feels like short. It has been a weird one all around during these past ten months.”
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