The Celtic boss has reacted to their match with Hibs on Sunday
Martin O’Neill hailed Celtic’s come-from-behind win against Hibs as their best of the season but fears it came at a cost after right-back Alistair Johnston’s comeback was terminated inside 21 minutes.
The Canadian international was brought on after 52 minutes for his first appearance since the second league game of the season at Kilmarnock. But there are worries that Johnston might have damaged his hamstring again. Johnston was replaced by Cameron Carter-Vickers, another player returning from injury, after 73 minutes.
“So – he felt something at the top of his hamstring,” said O’Neill, who knew this was likely to be top of the agenda for reporters after the game, which Celtic had won 2-1 to re-establish their four-point lead over Rangers at the top. “It (the pain) is a wee bit higher than before, which might be encouraging, I don’t know.
Alistair Johnston Celtic injury latest
“We will obviously have to wait and see. I assume we will get the scans either later tonight, maybe tomorrow, and we will assess it.
“He is obviously disappointed,” he added. “Just 15-20 minutes, and you saw even in that little period of time what he is capable of doing both defensively and getting forward. It will be a big blow to him and a big blow to the club if it is a hamstring injury.”
O’Neill is praying the discomfort the player felt proves only to be a spot of cramp but there is clear concern about the situation. Johnston endured something similar last season when he returned in October after a period out following a hamstring injury and was replaced after just 26 minutes against Sturm Graz. He didn’t feature again until April.
“He is a terrific footballer, we have missed him,” said O’Neill. “During that time, Colby (Donovan) has done exceptionally well – exceptionally well, better than anyone could have anticipated. But for Johnston, it is really disappointing if that’s the case and he has to go and do rehab again and for us as a club, because we have been looking forward to him coming back for a couple of weeks.”
On a brighter note, O’Neill was delighted by his side’s win in trying conditions and having conceded just two minutes in. Hibs striker Owen Elding took advantage of a quickly-taken free kick.
“We were still on the bus,” complained O’Neill. Celtic struck back almost immediately, after Jason Kerr headed into his own net following Benjamin Nygren’s corner. Camilo Duran scored what proved the winner just before half time with a brilliant finish after picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box.
“I didn’t think at that stage it was going to prove the winner,” said O’Neill, with a nod to the chaotic nature of the game. The high winds had an inevitable say in the proceedings.
Hibs 1-2 Celtic assessed
“Coming here it doesn't matter where Hibs are placed in the league, it's always been difficult,” he said. “Plus the conditions didn't help either side. And then to come from a goal behind to win the game and get the block towards the end (by Carter-Vickers) as well, to seal the three points through, I thought it was our best win of the season – seriously.”
Kasper Hogh, Celtic’s troubled £11 million forward, returned to the starting XI but again came up short in front of goal. O’Neill is sympathetic but challenged the Dane to do better.
“He's a box player and I think the one Callum Osmand slid across the box, I think a confident Kasper would be sliding that one into the net, a bit like the second game of the season at Kilmarnock,” he said.
“It’s just a bit of lack of confidence at this minute. He needs a goal. You have to fight through these things. You have to get yourself in the side, and there's a bit of competition for places, you know? Particularly if, as we've said this before, Duran's best position would probably be at centre forward.”