Alistair Johnston’s return to international duty ended in disappointment as Canada were knocked out of the Gold Cup by Guatemala on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

The Celtic defender, who rushed back from a back injury to feature in the tournament, was at the heart of the action but looked far from his usual self.

Canada had taken the lead through a Jonathan David penalty in the first half, but were reduced to ten men before the break, putting added pressure on the backline.

Johnston, deployed in his usual right-back role, was caught high up the pitch for Guatemala’s equaliser midway through the second half.

With space left behind him, Óscar Santis delivered a pinpoint cross that was met by Rubio Rubín, who made no mistake with the header. It was the sort of mistake that a fully fit Johnston typically avoids, but the signs of a lack of full fitness were clear throughout the match.

This wasn’t an isolated moment either. In his earlier outing against Curaçao, Johnston came off the bench and was involved in the defensive error that led to a late equaliser. His performances throughout the tournament showed a player still short of full sharpness following a disrupted pre-season.

With Celtic now in the early stages of their own preparations for the new campaign, it would be a wise move to hand the Canadian defender some extended rest.

Brendan Rodgers will want his key players operating at full fitness, and a fit Johnston remains a crucial part of the manager’s plans. Right now, though, he looks like a player who needs time to reset.