The Lowdown on Alistair Johnston | Will the Canadian be Celtic's 2nd January Recruit?

Celtic are reported to be closing in on a deal for Canada right-back Alistair Johnston. The 24 year-old from CF Montreal has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Josip Juranovic, should he be sold in the January transfer window.

Paul & Chris discuss the potential deal for Johnston and the confirmed deal for Yuki Kobayashi, as well as the impact both could have on the Celtic squad. Chris has watched Johnston on numerous occasions for both Canada and for Montreal in the MLS.

LIKE the video, COMMENT with your own thoughts below and DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE!

FOLLOW us across all social media platforms 👇🏻🍀

#CelticFC​

[pulleyfm]

You guys will love Johnston, he's pretty much forced Celtic to move now or lose out. He's one of Canada's emotional leaders, and his caps are even more impressive when you consider they're consecutive. He's ones of our key players, and our coach uses him incredibly well which is part of the reason his reputations growing so fast. When he was at Nashville he was just an undersized and aggressive center back, but after moving to Montreal and playing more for Canada he's show that he's a really good offensive wingback. He's got an incredible engine and is one of Canada's most combative players, if there's a questionable challenge he's one of the first ones in defending his teammates.

Tactically against Belgium he was a key part of that incredible team performance. We were using him to push up high and create overloads on the right side that punished Belgium so badly they had to take both they LB and Tielemans off at HALF time because they couldn't cope and were getting killed in that are of the pitch. Hazard also left at 62 minutes, which although he's been out of form and fitness for Real Madrid is still unusual for Belgium.

He's got a ton of room to grow, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Celtic made a big profit on him. He's the type of player you can load responsibility up on for both sides of the pitch and he's got the physical, technical and intelligence to put those instructions to full effect. John Herdman, the Canadian manager absolutely loves him because of that. Canada shut down Pulisic(Chelsea), Chucky Lozano(Napoli) and Leon Bailey(Villa) in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers for a reason. CONCACAF is a mixed bag, but there are some great LW's in the region and he stuffed them all.

[Swindel]

Apparently he used to be a hockey player and he brings that aggression & tenacity into his game. Excited to have a Canadian in the team..got family over in Montreal so it's perfect!

[Boabywankenobi]

Always enjoy a video with Chris, comfortably your best contributor

[stevieross]

Good to see Chris back on the show positive vibes all round guys !!!!

[markyule]

Great video. I was watching Canada play Belgium and Alistair Johnston was one of the players who impressed me with his energy, hard tackling and all round play, and I can honestly say it was before I had heard of any Celtic interest in him. So the following morning when I heard there was interest, I was highly delighted at the prospect of him becoming a Celtic player 🍀🍀🍀

[keithsinclair]

Great stuff from Paul and Chris. I agree Ange is doing all the right things with signings and he knows getting into CL next season is pivotal. He’s also acutely aware we need to progress, ie winning maybe two home games and one away. Interesting Chris saying Ange could be one of the best Celtic managers in his time as a fan. Well I watched O’Neill, Lennon and Strachan deliver success in Europe and if Ange’s star is to continue to rise he knows he must too.

[andrewgalea]

I love seeing players who are driven to achieve a success that is not expected of them due to geography.
In Australia we get that and our players are spread far and wide around the world in search of opportunity, and are well respected as professionals everywhere they go.
If this Canadian international is our next signing, I've no doubt he'll put in his best efforts for the club.

[waynemuir]

Chris great contributer. Articulate and insightful.

[speckyhotdoganderson]

Really excited abt Alistair Johnston joining our club...he didn't have the greatest of games against Croatia but you can see the potential in him hh 👍🏻🍀

[nicholasjagneaux]

Considering that Canada's World Cup will be done by Dec. 1, Johnston will have time to rest & recuperate; and should be ready to go for Celtic as soon as the transfer window allows. (Plus, Montréal's season ended Oct. 23, so he had a bit of rest headed into the World Cup.)

[tomhill]

Good breakdown Chris, I just have one question - wtf is "soccer"?

[Winter-gfnt]

If we're to let Josip go, I think its high time we get the proper market value for him and and any others.
Heres a player who plays beside one of the recent ballon dor winners and for the current world cup runners up.
Tierney was an academy graduate who gained champions league, European, and international experience with the club and we sold him injured for £25 million.
Surely Juranovic will be worth more.

To answer the guest speakers question, name one other player?
It would unfortunately be McCarthy and like ideguchi that's been down to injury.

Also its fantastic to see that we are getting our business done quickly and no haggling over a few 100k .
Jenz lastly has been great for us especially given that he was brought in as cover and is living the dream.
He is going to be a permanent Celtic signing I'm certain.
I believe that at present hes ahead of welsh for now and is good cover for a position we've had problems with through injury
HH

[soccerprophet]

maybe a good deal money wise, if Celtic gets good money for Jura
Playing wise .he will be good for SPL ..for ECL average..technically

[Delboy-hild]

Many question marks over Johnson. Buchanan from club brugge looked far more accomplished. But ange will have a lot of work to do with him

[bigc]

Im 43 years old Chris, a lot older than you! And I also have never seen as strong a Celtic squad, hail hail

[jamiemcgowan]

The media have got juranovic out the door before any official offer's from other clubs & I honestly think his agent is touting him for his own gain rather than juranovics.... the left sided left back we signed does that mean jenz won't be signing up after his loan deal???

[anthonybeattie]

Win win Johnston will to be taller stronger quicker younger no brainier

[sean]

Should cancel the interest after that Croatia performance That nutmeg Ouch !!!

[dghggf]

Big loss for us if he goes, our owner sucks, so loosing him will really hurt us.

[cjc]

Did I hear him right. Hatate gonna go on and play for a much bigger club. I don't doubt that he will go and play for a big club he is class but there isn't a much bigger club than Celtic, bigger league yes but club, no.