Alistair Johnston has been crucial for Celtic and Canada over the last two years.
At Celtic, Johnston has been central to a treble win under Ange Postecoglou and winning two doubles with Brendan Rodgers.
With the Canadian national team, Jesse Marsch has relied on Alistair Johnston to take his team to a World Cup, the Copa America and Gold Cup semi-finals over recent years.
And after Johnston’s performance for Canada in the win over El Salvador, Canadian-based Scottish pundit Steven Caldwell believes Marsch has a big decision to make on the Celtic defender.
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Jesse Marsch told to ‘find a place somewhere else’ for Canada star behind Celtic’s Alistair Johnston
Johnston has been the main right-back choice for Marsch since he took over the Canada managerial post in May 2024.
However, there appears to be an ‘outstanding’ player who is breathing down Johnston’s neck for that starting Canada spot.
And Caldwell has told Marsch he has a big decision to make on who gets that place in the team.
Caldwell told TSN Overdrive [11m], “Two guys that I’ll say have stepped up in recent games between the early June friendlies and the Canadian Shield and then the early Gold Cup games are Niko Sigur, who’s been outstanding.
“Hadjuk Split man, he has been outstanding at right full-back and is becoming a player that I think Jesse Marsch wants to try and find a place in the 11.
“Now, I don’t know if he’s going to be able to do that because you’ve got a lot of players vying for a position, but he’s someone that with Alistair Johnston being your first choice right back, you’re saying, can Niko Sigur kick him off that place or can he find a place somewhere else in the team and can you adjust?
“So he’s one that’s pushing really hard.”
Celtic’s Alistair Johnston vs Hajduk Split’s Nico Sigur, who is best for Canada?
At 26, Alistair Johnston currently has 54 caps for Canada and has captained the side under Jesse Marsch. The Celtic defender has big-game experience at club and country level.
Johnston has starred in 111 games for Celtic against the likes of Rangers, has played in major cup finals and has experience in the Champions League. The defender also has seven major honours to his name.
At 21, Niko Sigur has seven international caps as he begins his fledgling career. A product of the Hajduk Split youth academy, the versatile player has made just 70 first-team appearances for the Croatian club.
Sigur has won the Croatian Cup playing right-back in the 2023 final against HNK Sibenik. The youngster also has limited experience in the Europa Conference League with just 182 minutes under his belt.
It’s clear young Sigur is talented and highly-rated but, in truth, Canada will stick with Johnston with the young Hajduk Split man learning from the Celtic defender.
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