Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston has been called up by Jesse Marsch for Canada’s 26-man squad ahead of this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Johnston, who has become a key player for both club and country in recent years, is set to represent Canada on home soil and across the United States, with group matches against Honduras, Curaçao, and El Salvador on the agenda.
The opening fixture sees them take on Ukraine this Saturday in a friendly, followed by another friendly with the Ivory Coast the following Wednesday. The tournament proper kicks off a week later with a clash against Honduras, where Johnston may face clubmate Luis Palma, named in the Honduras squad.
The 25-year-old has reportedly been managing a back problem since Celtic’s Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen, a condition that was being closely monitored in the run-up to the Hampden showpiece. TSN report that the full-back’s game time had been deliberately managed in recent weeks for Celtic, but he’s still made the cut for Marsch’s final tournament squad.
Johnston, who joined Celtic from CF Montréal, has 53 international caps and one goal to his name since making his cap for Canada in 2021. His inclusion reflects Marsch’s trust in the defender’s experience and reliability, even with concerns over fitness.
Interestingly, Johnston and Luis Palma are Celtic’s only players involved in the CONCACAF tournament this summer. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty, both eligible for the United States, have been snubbed by Mauricio Pochettino.
The Gold Cup gives Johnston another chance to show his quality on the international stage, but there will also be questions about his fitness as Canada aim to start well under boss Jesse Marsch.
