Alistair Johnston’s former head coach at Vaughan Soccer Club, Patrice Gheisar, has provided Celtic supporters with a lowdown on the incoming full-back.
The 24-year-old has had an incredible rise back in his homeland over the last few years and has become a national team regular for Canada.
Now, the defender is preparing to take the next huge step in his career by joining Celtic, with Ange Postecoglou closing in on his second January addition.
The MLS market is one that Celtic supporters aren’t too familiar with, having rarely shopped in that league in recent years.
So Johnston arrives at Parkhead as more of an unknown quantity, with fans getting just a small glimpse of what they might be in for during his performances at the World Cup in Qatar.
The latter years of the right-backs youth career came playing for Vaughan Soccer Club and working under head coach Patrice Gheisar, who helped raise players such as Johnston and his international teammate Kamal Miller.
Speaking in a recent interview with the Daily Record, Gheisar gave Celtic fans an insight into what they can expect from Johnston as he reflected on his mentality and ability as a player.
One aspect in particular in Johnston’s game as a youngster may have just geared him up perfectly for the demands of a Celtic full-back in Ange Postecoglou’s system.
He said [Daily Record]: “We started the high-performance programme – what you would call the reserve team – around 14 years ago, and it’s grown to be one of the most successful programmes in Canada.
“We continue to produce numerous players, and Kamal Miller also comes from our academy. I don’t know if Alistair quite gets the love that is behind the game in Europe, but it will be exciting for him to embark upon it.
“Once he gets there, he will be a little bit surprised, but not much. He gets it, the game means a lot to him and his family. He’ll be fine adjusting. He was with us at a younger age. The 1998 age group didn’t really have a team, as some had quit soccer.
“I worked with his dad, and he said he wasn’t getting proper treatment and training, so we moved him over to us. We moved him up to play with the 1997 group, and he really progressed playing with older boys.
“He was a cross-country runner, so we played him in midfield because he could run for days. He was athletic, but he was a wiry, skinny kid. He was a really good cross-country runner for his high school team, and that’s not easy. It is a difficult sport, and it challenges his mind, but that’s who he is – hard-working, driven and committed. It gave him a great base for this sport. We played him in a number of midfield positions but tried him at full-back one day, and he has never looked back.”
He continued: “He loves to get absolutely stuck in. He didn’t have the same build, but he’s a late bloomer. That’s why I am so interested to see how he develops, as he’s like a fine wine, getting better the older he gets.
“A lot of boys in Canada and Toronto peak at 16 or 17, plateauing or dropping off. The better the level, the better he gets. The kid played for our reserve team. We promoted him to the first team – did great.
“He went to college and transferred to a bigger school – did great. Went to Nashville and did great. Montreal, great. Everyone counts him out, but no matter the level, he adjusts. You think he might get overwhelmed but he pulls through. He is extremely consistent. He takes care of his body. He doesn’t party much, he watches what he eats, he’s a really good boy. He is invested in his career.”
“He was always a central midfielder, so it’s crazy to think he’s been a full-back for all of two years, and he’s playing in the World Cup at full-back. He’ll do great, and one of my best friends growing up was a huge Celtic fan. I get the opportunities that come with it, and I’m well aware of the Celtic v Rangers rivalry. That’s a game where Ali will take his game to the next level as the bigger the stage, the better he performs.”
Johnston’s youth career as a midfielder may help towards unique Celtic fullback position.
As we are all now aware, playing as a full-back in Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side is slightly different to the majority of teams due to their inverted role.
So hearing more in-depth about Johnston’s youth career as a midfielder and his natural athleticism, it certainly makes sense why the Celtic manager is chasing the Canadian international for the right-back position.
Of course, it is bound to take him some time to settle into life at Parkhead. But, it is positive to hear from Gheisar that no matter where Johnston goes, he seems to settle in and thrive.
With a deal to bring the defender to the club edging closer, he sounds like another brilliant pickup by Postecoglou and his recruitment team, who have clearly done their homework on the player.
Here’s hoping we can get confirmation of Johnston’s move soon, and he can start settling into life as a Celtic player before we start seeing the best of him, either this season or next.
In other news, Former Celtic defender set for exit talks after interest from English giants.
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