Brendan Rodgers would be wise to hand Alistair Johnston a well-earned rest in the coming weeks.
The Canadian full-back has looked far from his usual self of late, and a combination of factors may be catching up with him.
Johnston has played a lot of football this season, both for Celtic and Canada. He’s travelled thousands of miles on international duty and often been asked to dig deep and play through knocks. That workload seems to be taking a toll, with his recent performances lacking the intensity and composure that usually define his game.
There’s no doubting Johnston’s quality—he’s a key part of Celtic’s defensive structure and has been a model of consistency since arriving from CF Montréal. But right now, he looks jaded. A short spell out of the firing line could be exactly what he needs to recharge for the run-in.
Celtic are fortunate to have a more-than-capable deputy in Tony Ralston. The Scotland international is coming off a strong international break, starting both matches for Steve Clarke’s side and impressing. Ralston has always shown he’s ready when called upon and won’t let the side down.
Rodgers has previously suggested that Ralston would play a bigger role this season. With the Scottish Cup final and key league fixtures ahead, this could be the ideal time to act on that promise.
Back in May, Rodgers said that the academy graduate would “feature more” for the Hoops this season.
Managing minutes now could pay dividends later—and keeping Johnston fresh for the business end of the season should be a priority.
