Has Colby Donovan Dethroned Alistair Johnston?

I think it is time we had a serious conversation about Colby Donovan.

For months, the assumption has been that Alistair Johnston is Celtic’s undisputed first-choice right-back (when fit), with Donovan waiting patiently for his opportunity. Johnston has earned plenty of credit for what he has done in a Celtic shirt, while Ralston has always been willing to give everything for the club.

But football does not stand still, and places in this team should never be handed out on reputation alone.

After watching Donovan against Hearts, I am beginning to think the teenager has done enough to be first choice when Johnston returns from injury.

In my opinion, Colby Donovan should now be Celtic’s number one right-back.

The 7-1 demolition of Hearts was a brilliant afternoon for Celtic, but Donovan’s performance was another reason to be excited about the young defender. He was confident, positive and willing to take responsibility. He even came close to getting himself on the scoresheet with a thunderous effort that forced a good save from Beau Reus.

That moment summed up what I want to see from a Celtic right-back.

Not somebody who simply occupies a position in the back four. Not somebody who plays the safe pass every time the ball comes near them. I want a defender who is comfortable on the ball, willing to get forward, prepared to take a risk and determined to make things happen.

Donovan showed those qualities against Hearts AGAIN.

There was an energy about his performance that suited the way we played. We were aggressive, we moved the ball with purpose and we looked to overwhelm our opponents. Donovan fitted into that approach instead of looking like a youngster who was simply grateful to be involved.

That is an important distinction.

He did not look out of place in a team.

And this is not the first time he has stepped up, he has done it all season and last.

Donovan impressed during Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in August, earning praise for his performance on a major European night. Martin O’Neill has already spoken positively about the youngster’s attitude, enthusiasm and commitment to the club.

The Hearts performance was another reminder that we should be looking at Donovan as one of the first players on the team sheet, not merely as a promising prospect we wheel out when Alistair Johnston is unavailable.

That brings us to Johnston.

I have plenty of respect for what the Canadian has contributed to Celtic. When fit, he has shown he can be an effective right-back, and his intensity and commitment have made him an important player. But his injury problems have interrupted his momentum, and Celtic now have a young alternative who is making the most of his opportunities.

Johnston should not automatically walk back into the team simply because he has been our established first choice.

If Donovan continues to perform at this level, he deserves to keep the shirt. That is how competition should work at Celtic. You earn your place through performances, and you lose it when somebody else gives the manager a reason to make a change.

The question should not be whether Johnston is a good player. It should be whether he is currently offering Celtic more than Donovan.

At this moment, I am not convinced he is.

Donovan is young, hungry and developing with every appearance. He understands the significance of playing for Celtic, and there is a real opportunity here for him to establish himself before Johnston has even fully recovered his place in the team.

We have spent years talking about the importance of giving young players a pathway into the first team. Yet when one of them starts taking genuine steps towards becoming a regular, we can be too quick to treat him as a temporary solution.

Celtic cannot afford to think like that.

If Donovan is good enough, he is good enough. His age should be a reason to encourage his development, not a reason to hold him back.

And while we are discussing the right-back position, I think we need to be honest about the other options.

Jordan Lotomba arrived with experience and a reputation for pace and strength, but I have yet to see enough to convince me that he is Celtic quality. He was brought in to provide competition and cover, yet the young Scot is making the stronger case for himself.

Anthony Ralston has served Celtic well as a squad player, and nobody can question his effort or affection for the club. But if we are serious about improving the team, we cannot allow sentiment to dictate selection. Ralston has struggled to convince that he should be the long-term answer at right-back, and Donovan has now given O’Neill a reason to look beyond him.

For me, both Lotomba and Ralston are now out of the picture when it comes to being Celtic’s first-choice right-back.

That does not mean they have no use in the squad. Injuries, suspensions and fixture congestion mean Celtic need depth, and there will be opportunities for other players to contribute. But the starting position should be Donovan’s to lose.

Imagine what another season of regular football could do for him. He would gain experience in domestic competition, learn from European matches and develop alongside experienced defenders. Mistakes will happen, as they do with every young player, but that is part of the process.

We cannot demand that our academy produces first-team footballers and then panic the moment they make a mistake.

The important thing is whether Donovan learns, improves and continues to show the qualities that have brought him this far. So far, he has given us plenty of reasons to believe he can do exactly that.

There is also a wider point here. Celtic should not need to spend millions searching for a solution to every position if the answer is already coming through our own ranks. We have a talented young right-back who has taken his opportunity and is beginning to look increasingly comfortable at this level.

Why would we not back him?

Johnston will have his opportunity to respond when he is available again. That is fair, and it is exactly how competition should work. But the starting shirt should not be reserved for him regardless of what Donovan produces.

For the first time in a while, I believe Celtic have a genuine debate at right-back — and it is one that Donovan has created through his own performances.

He was excellent against Hearts, he has already shown he can handle a major European occasion, and he looks increasingly like a player who belongs in this team.

My choice is Colby Donovan.

Johnston has the experience, Lotomba has arrived with a reputation, and Ralston has served the club for years. But right now, I want to see the young Scot given the chance to make that position his own.

Celtic should reward performances, not reputations.

And if Donovan keeps playing like this, Martin O’Neill might discover that his next first-choice right-back was sitting in the academy all along.