Alistair Johnston was given Celtic’s in stadium man of the match award on Saturday and after the game, manager Ange Postecoglou revealed how he knew the Canadian would succeed in green and white after he first spoke to him.

Signed for 3.5 million Euros (Transfermarkt) from Montreal in the MLS in the winter window, Johnston has been a top success since making the move to Glasgow.

He has been one of the Hoops’ most consistent performers week in, week out since joining and post derby, Celtic gaffer Ange Postecoglou told CeltsAreHere how he knew Johnston would prosper instantly in Glasgow:

“From the moment I spoke to him I knew he’d do for me. I finished off the Zoom call and said to somebody ‘he’s going to do well here’.”

Postecoglou was not in one way wrong with what he said when he initially spoke to Johnston as the Canadian has been a top performer since signing for Celtic, this is also something Ange touched on:

“He’s just a winner, he’s very determined to get the best out of his football ability. He’s embraced the culture here and embraced the responsibility he has.

“You know, in four months he’s had three of these games, three derbies, and I think he has excelled in all of them.”

Johnston was thrown in at the deep end on his Celtic debut at Ibrox however this is testament to his own character and the extent to which Ange trusts him.

It took a lot steel for Johnston to make his Celtic debut at the home of his side’s fiercest rivals although Postecoglou said how he always looks for a certain type of character when recruiting players:

“When you try and bring in players, particularly to this football club, what I have found is that aside from their abilities as a footballer it takes certain types of characters.”

Johnston is assuredly one of these characters and going forward into the run in, he will be aiming for yet more standout displays following a tremendous few months so far in Glasgow’s east end.