Alistair Johnston did not need weeks to rediscover his rhythm after returning from injury. Celtic looked sharper, calmer and far more balanced the moment he stepped back into Martin O’Neill’s side against Hibernian.
That has become one of the clearest signs of Johnston’s importance at Celtic. His quality is obvious when he plays, but it often becomes even clearer when he is unavailable.
The Canadian returned looking like a player who had never been away. His performance against Hibs quickly earned a place in the SPFL Team of the Week, but the bigger story was how naturally Celtic’s structure improved with him back in the side.
Who was your Celtic MOTM vs Hibs??
Celtic immediately regained balance with Alistair Johnston in the side
Johnston’s numbers against Hibernian backed up exactly what Celtic supporters saw during the match. The right-back registered one assist while also creating three chances during his 64 minutes on the pitch.
His use of possession was equally impressive. Johnston completed 43 of his 45 passes, meaning he completed 96% of his passes, while also producing six passes into the final third.
Those figures matter because they highlight the balance Johnston gives Celtic on both sides of the ball. Rodgers depends heavily on his full-backs to progress possession cleanly and sustain pressure high up the pitch.
Johnston immediately restored that rhythm. Celtic looked more controlled in possession and more aggressive moving forward down the right side.
- 1 assist
- 3 chances created
- 96% passing accuracy
- 6 passes into the final third
- 0 dispossessions
- 100% ground duel success
- 100% aerial duel success
Johnston’s reliability remains one of Celtic’s biggest strengths
One of Johnston’s best qualities is how he strengthens the Hoops’ back line. Celtic can rely on him to make the correct decision consistently, whether that means retaining possession, supporting attacks or defending transitions.
Against Hibs, he was not dispossessed once and won every duel he contested. Those are small details, but they are exactly the type of details that make O’Neill trust him so heavily.
Celtic have players capable of producing moments of brilliance, but Johnston offers something different. He delivers consistency, structure and reliability almost every week he plays.
That is why his absence due to injury was so noticeable. Celtic missed the stability he provides on the right side, particularly in possession and during transitions.
The most impressive part of his return was how immediate the impact looked. There was no visible hesitation in his game and no signs of rust after injury.
Johnston simply returned and immediately looked like one of Celtic’s most dependable performers again. The reaction after the Hibs match showed that everyone watching recognised it quickly.
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