Alistair Johnston merits new contract and it’s sensible business from Celtic

The Celtic Star

·08 de novembro de 2024

Alistair Johnston merits new contract and it’s sensible business from Celtic

News of Hoops star Alistair Johnston on the verge of signing a bumper deal at Celtic is terrific business. The Canadian has been absolutely outstanding this season…

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League – League Stage – Celtic Park (back to front, left to right) Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi before the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park, on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Bumper New Deal

According to Scott Burns via the Daily Record, Johnston whose contract expires in 2027 is set to be rewarded with an extension to his current deal.

Vídeos OneFootball

Similarly to Matt O’Riley, it is perhaps unlikely that Johnston will stay in Glasgow’s East End for the remainder of his new deal, but it gives the club added protection if the inevitable happens and Johnston is targeted by a Premier League club. Hopefully that doesn’t happen and instead Celtic are able to build a team that can make their mark in European football.

He has become instrumental in Celtic’s success this season. Brendan Rodgers trusts Johnston as a leader within the group. This was evidenced by giving the right-back the captain’s armband at Fir Park following the absence of skipper Callum McGregor and vice-captain Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Alistair Johnston with Kasper Schmeichel. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Johnston- Kuhn partnership is superb

Defensively sound, Johnston has also added goals to his game this campaign. Four league goals to his name so far this campaign, positioning himself in the right areas seems to be a familiar theme for Celtic’s reliable full-back.

Meanwhile, Johnston’s partnership down the right flank with reborn winger Nicolas Kuhn has been a revelation. Not only have domestic sides not been able to handle the pace and trickery of the two, but like we seen on Tuesday night against Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, the duo are flying in Europe’s elite club competition.

Excellent Champions League performances will only inflate Johnston’s price. The acquisition of the 26 year-old from Montreal by former Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou coming up for three years in January was a quite remarkable piece of recruitment.

Alistair Johnston is congratulated by his teammates. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

An upgrade on Josip Juranovic

The difficulty of finding a replacement for someone of Josip Juranovic’s quality seemed as if it would be a troubling. But, the reality is Johnston has been an upgrade and then some. Possible recency bias could be creeping in but is there an argument that Johnston has been Celtic’s best right back of the 21st century?

A breakthrough in negotiations for a new contract extension just adds to the feel-good factor that is circulating around Celtic at this moment. Players want to be at Paradise, and no doubt playing double digit games in the Champions League plays a huge role in decision-making over new contracts.

Alistair Johnston in action in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final. Celtic 6 Aberdeen 0. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Next up, Rugby Park

Johnston will most likely feature in his 17th appearance for the Hoops this Sunday as Celtic face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Johnston will then fly out to his home country as Canada gear up to play Suriname in the upcoming CONCAF Nations League quarter-finals.

Conor Spence

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– terça-feira, 5 de novembro de 2024