Celtic told to sign right-back after confirmed Alistair Johnston news – expert
Celtic need to sign a new right-back following Alistair Johnston’s injury.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie said Johnston’s injury is a “major problem” for Brendan Rodgers so close to the start of the new season.
The 24-year-old picked up an ankle injury on international duty with Canada at the beginning of the summer break and has since undergone surgery on the issue.
As quoted by STV (13 July), Rodgers confirmed that the defender will be facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines whilst he recovers.
The Hoops’ only back up is Anthony Ralston who made just 11 Premiership appearances last season, most of which came whilst Johnston was injured.
McAvennie insisted the Celts will need to bring in another right-back this summer.
“I think it is a major problem,” he told Football Insider.
“I think they are going to have to bring somebody in if he is not going to be ready for the start of the season.
“You can’t have just one, there are a few games left before the end of pre-season so I would not be surprised if Anthony Ralston got injured before then.
“If they think it is going to be long-term then they have got to bring someone in. That is a blow.“
Johnston joined the Hoops in January as a replacement for the departing Josip Juranovic following his impressive showing for Croatia at the World Cup.
The Canadian made 20 appearances for the Celts in the second half of the season and was in the starting lineup for all of those outings.
In other news, Celtic make move to sign 26-yr-old with same agent as Kieran Tierney.