Sam Johnstone's chances of replacing Viljami Sinisalo in Celtic XI revealed
Sam Johnstone is set to push Viljami Sinisalo for the first-choice goalkeeper spot at Celtic, sources have told Football Insider.
The 33-year-old joined Celtic on loan in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, but is not believed to be content playing backup to the current number-one.
Instead, Sinisalo will face competition for his role in the starting XI after what has been a difficult start to the season, with the new arrival ready to stake his claim.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, Martin O'Neill is happy to let his goalkeepers compete and does not have a set first choice.
Sinisalo has endured a difficult start to the season at Celtic, where he has kept four clean sheets in eight games, and played a big part in the 5-1 defeat against LASK.
Despite having impressed towards the back end of their double-winning season last time out, the goalkeeper is facing question marks, with Johnstone eyeing an improved role.
Who is the first-choice goalkeeper at Celtic?
Football Insider revealed back in March that Sinisalo's performances for Celtic have forced the club into a U-turn, despite having initially planned to sign a new first-choice keeper.
The Finland international has proved he can play an important role under O'Neill, but a mixed start to the new season has led to questions being asked over his position.
Johnstone's arrival is set to put pressure on Sinisalo for that number-one spot, with both the England international and O'Neill happy for the competiton.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "I'm sure Sam Johnstone is arriving at Celtic hoping that he can get that number one spot off Sinisalo.
"Obviously, Sinisalo has got it right now. He started the season and obviously ended the season last year with Celtic as the number one goalkeeper.
"So he'll have to wrestle that shirt off Sinisalo, but I'm sure Sam Johnsone will be hopeful that he can do that.
"Obviously things haven't really worked out for him in recent times at Wolves with the relegation and then obviously he lost his place in the Wolves side but he's still a quality goalkeeper.
"Sam Johnstone will back himself to come in and really fight for that spot and that can only be good for Martin O'Neill that he's got two good goalkeepers battling for the jersey."
What are Sam Johnstone's ambitions at Celtic?
Johnstone has endured a frustrating couple of years, having joined Wolves from Crystal Palace in 2024, where he subsquently lost his place in the starting XI to Jose Sa.
The shot-stopper was pushed down the pecking order at Molineux, and was eventually part of the team who were relegated with a whimper last time out.
Football Insider reported on 28 August that there are lingering concerns about Johnstone's fitness, with Celtic having been urged to pull the plug on his signing.
The goalkeeper underwent shoulder surgery at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, ruling him out of the final matches and disrupting his pre-season this summer.
However, following his arrival in Glasgow, Johnstone is keen to put a frustrating couple of years behind him in favour of establishing himself at Celtic Park.