Rodgers on Ralston – “I know I’ve got someone there I can trust”

Brendan Rodgers yesterday provided a worrying update of Alistair Johnston who suffered a horrendous head injury in the midweek win over Hibs at Easter Road than resulted in the Canada international right-back being stretched off and taken to hospital with Celtic being awarded a penalty kick.

And despite Zombie protestations, even Bobby Madden reckoned that Nick Walsh had got that one bang one and would have been awarded at any league around the world.

Johnston was taken to hospital but later eased concerns by posting an upbeat photograph on social media. But yesterday, when asked about the defender’s situation, the Celtic manager revealed that Johnston has suffered a slight fracture and has no idea how long this will see him sidelined.

“We think he has a slight fracture on the side of the head. We don’t know how long he will be out, we are just waiting to see,” Brendan Rodgers told the media at his pre-match media conference at Lennoxtown.

The Celtic manager also bemoaned the continual misfortune his squad has had to endure this season through injuries. “It just seems to be a season of continual issues, especially around a lot of our starting players. We’ll see, but hopefully it’ll be OK and he won’t be out for too long,” he said.

Johnston’s absence opens the way for Anthony Ralston to get a run of starts for Celtic in a season where he has very much been the understudy for the Canadian. But the Celtic manager has absolutely no concerns throwing Ralston into the starting line-up for what could be the rest of the season.

“That’s the beauty of it,” he said. “Tony, for me, in his own right, could start every game so it’s important you have that level of player. I see how he prepares himself and you see his tackle the other night at the end of the game which creates the opportunity for the penalty. I know I’ve got someone there I can trust.”