Marc Guehi in action for Crystal Palace amid Liverpool transfer interest. Credit: Imago
Jackie McNamara has warned Celtic to prepare themselves for significant transfer interest in Alistair Johnston following the Canadian’s impressive return from injury.
Johnston missed the majority of last season for the Parkhead club after suffering a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for an extended period.
The right-back returned in time to help Celtic secure a fifth consecutive title, with McNamara acknowledging the importance of his comeback at such a crucial stage of the campaign.
Johnston now faces a World Cup on home soil with Canada, where performances against Bosnia, Qatar and Switzerland could attract the attention of clubs across Europe.
McNamara said: “I think AJ’s been a great signing for Celtic. He was definitely a loss on that right side this season.”
The former Celtic defender highlighted the significance of Johnston’s role in the team’s attacking structure, noting how his absence disrupted the balance of the side throughout the season.
McNamara added: “I know Auston Trusty fitted in at times but having that balance there to stretch the game down the right is important for the way Celtic play, so it was a big plus him coming back late in the season.”
McNamara made clear that strong tournament performances could put multiple Celtic players in the shop window, not just Johnston alone.
He said: “If they’re doing well, if their numbers are good such as Arne Engels or Daizen Maeda, you will have teams interested. And it might be the same with AJ.”
Johnston arrived at Celtic Park in 2022 as a replacement for Josip Juranovic, and McNamara is urging the club’s recruitment team to already be identifying potential successors.
He said: “It was the same when Kyogo left, when Moussa Dembele left, when Virgil Van Dijk left – it’s about making sure they’re not missed and that comes down to the recruitment and having a forward plan to make sure of that.”
McNamara was equally emphatic that financial muscle alone is not the answer to replacing key players in a competitive market.
He said: “Recruitment is difficult because you’re competing at the highest level. It’s not just about spending lots and lots of money because that doesn’t prove anything or guarantee anything. It’s spending it wisely.”
Johnston’s injury was far from the only personnel setback that manager Martin O’Neill had to manage throughout the campaign last season.
McNamara reflected on the scale of the injury crisis, saying: “I don’t think it was talked about enough, the amount of players Celtic missed this year. Starting with the goalkeeper situation with Kasper Schmeichel’s injury, Cameron Carter-Vickers was also a massive one, Jota too.”
Despite those mounting absences, O’Neill guided Celtic to a Double, with McNamara full of praise for how the manager handled the situation throughout the season.
He said: “The fact Martin has managed to navigate his way through some really important games while also playing in Europe to get it over the line is incredible.”
McNamara made his comments while launching the Refugee World Cup Scotland 2026 tournament, a Wheatley Group and Glasgow Life sponsored event celebrating community diversity through football, scheduled for Sunday, June 21 at Toryglen Regional Football Centre.
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