Ally McCoist has revealed he recently met Alistair Johnston on the way back up from London.
The Celtic defender spent most of last season injured, but recently enjoyed a stellar home World Cup with Canada.
Reports have linked Johnston with a potential Celtic exit; he is yet to return to club action after reaching the round of 16 of the tournament with his country.
McCoist said that he could see him moving on, but praised him as an “impressive individual”.
Are you worried Alistair Johnston’s World Cup performances results in him leaving Celtic? 😬🍀
Interest is growing as Johnston thrives with Canada… 🇨🇦
Ally McCoist on ‘blethering away’ to Ally McCoist
Speaking on Open Goal this week, McCoist said: “I thought the big miss for Celtic last season was Carter-Vickers and Johnston, definitely.
“I actually met Alistair Johnston coming back up from London.
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“He was struggling with injury and all that stuff, I think he was doon getting an X-ray, MRI or whatever it was. Blethering away to him.
“He’s an impressive individual, and I thought ‘Yeah, he could probably go again’.
Knowing the two Alistairs, it can’t have been a short conversation…
Everton are the latest club to be linked with Johnston; the Blues are in need of several right-backs this summer.
Fulham also reportedly made contact with Johnston after his outstanding display in Canada’s 6-0 win over Qatar in Group B.
Johnston was labelled ‘world-class’ in that game, registering more expected assists than any player in any other game of the entire tournament.
His Parkhead contract runs until 2029; he was brought to Glasgow from CF Montreal for a fee of £3 million three-and-a-half years ago.
Martin O’Neill has already lost Daizen Maeda, whilst Arne Engels is also expected to depart in the near future – and it might not be finished there.
Johnston indicated that he wanted to stay at Celtic in May by acting as a public agent for his brother in an attempt to get him a move to Scotland.
However, speaking earlier this season, Johnston was more coy on his Celtic future, leaving the door open for a potential switch to the Premier League.
But there’s no denying that Johnston loves life in Glasgow and appreciates the honour of playing for a club as big as Celtic.
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