Martin O’Neill all but ends Alistair Johnston Celtic exit talk with telling update

Martin O’Neill has delivered a telling Celtic transfer update which makes an Alistair Johnston departure before the deadline look increasingly unlikely.

Johnston had attracted interest during the window, with Everton among the clubs linked with the Canadian international.

However, his hamstring injury now appears to have completely changed the picture.

O’Neill expects the defender to miss September. Crucially, he also believes Johnston will not return until after the transfer window closes.

Celtic transfer twist could keep Johnston at Parkhead

“He’ll be out for a few weeks. By the time he’s fit it’ll be past the deadline,” O’Neill said, as reported by the Daily Record.

That comment could effectively end the Celtic transfer speculation surrounding Johnston for this window.

It is difficult to imagine an interested club paying a substantial fee for a player currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

O’Neill then made an even more revealing observation while discussing Arne Engels’ impending £22million move to West Ham.

“The fact that Alistair played for us when there was an offer on the table and hurt himself, things like that may disappear,” he said.

Those words certainly suggest O’Neill believes the injury could make previous interest disappear.

From Celtic’s perspective, there is at least a silver lining.

Losing Engels and Johnston in the same transfer window would have removed two established first-team players from O’Neill’s squad.

Instead, Johnston now looks increasingly likely to remain at Celtic beyond the deadline.

Thankfully, O’Neill does not believe the injury is a repeat of the more serious problem which required surgery last season.

“I think it’s a wee bit lower down. Last year it was a bit higher up hence the operation,” he explained.

O’Neill added: “I don’t think he’ll be out for long. I’m guessing he’ll probably miss September.”

Martin O’Neill disappointed by Engels Celtic exit

Engels, meanwhile, appears destined for West Ham.

O’Neill confirmed the Belgian was undergoing his medical and admitted he wanted to retain the midfielder until after Celtic’s Champions League play-off.

“Naturally disappointed that he’s leaving the football club,” he said.

“Ideally, I’d have loved him to have stayed and maybe completed it after the two games.”

There is an interesting connection between the two situations.

Johnston’s injury demonstrates precisely what can happen when a player takes to the pitch while transfer interest surrounds him.

O’Neill even suggested Engels may have had that possibility in his mind.

“Arne himself was probably worried that was going to happen,” he admitted.

O’Neill was also back on media duties following his recent hospital procedure and confirmed he is recovering well.

For Celtic supporters, though, Johnston’s future was arguably the biggest takeaway.

Engels may be heading through the exit door, but Johnston now looks far more likely to be staying at Parkhead.