Johnston aiming to show a reaction from Euro defeat

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Celtic F.C.

·1 December 2023

Johnston aiming to show a reaction from Euro defeat

Celtic return to domestic action this weekend with the trip to face St Johnstone in Perth on Sunday.

Although the team focuses on the task at hand against Craig Levein's side, Alistair Johnston still has Tuesday night’s Champions League defeat in mind.

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The 2-0 loss to Lazio ended Celtic’s hopes of qualifying for Europe post-Christmas and the Canada internationalist feels there’s plenty for the squad to learn from for the rest of this season and any future Champions League campaign.

He said: “It was disappointing for sure, but at the same time the campaign isn’t over yet with another home match.

“We would have loved to have gone into that match with something to play for so that’s frustrating.

“As a whole, there were some matches where we performed well and others we let drift by us, specifically that last one which felt like we hadn’t laid a punch.

'We would have wanted more results and points and the campaign is not done and we want to aim to finish on a high note with Feyenoord at home.'

“It’s a busy Christmas period with a match pretty much every three days and we need to focus on the league.

“We know the only way to get back into the Champions League is by winning the league and hopefully we can be back next season.”

St Johnstone have already proved to Celtic what they can offer earlier in the season when the sides played out a 0-0 draw at Celtic Park.

Johnston knows the threat they can pose on Sunday lunchtime but he hopes to use the disappointment of Rome to his and the squad’s benefit.

He added: “It’s similar to how we felt before the international window where we went to Atletico Madrid and had a really difficult match there and Aberdeen felt the force.

'It will be a similar mentality and feeling where we want to come out of the gate strong as that performance in Lazio doesn’t define us and we have more to show.'

“It’s a difficult ground to play at and not an easy team either who are physical and strong and can pose a threat.

“So I think we will come out hot and if we do that then we have the quality to get the result we need.”

It was a disrupted start to the campaign for Johnston after his 2022/23 season came to an early end to receive ankle surgery.

Missing all of pre-season, his first game back was that 0-0 draw against St Johnstone at the end of August and the 25-year-old says he is close to being back to his best from the surgery.

He said: “It was difficult missing out on a full pre-season. When you get one of those under your belt it definitely helps, especially at this time of the year.

“The coaching staff have been really good coming off ankle surgery. It wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked with some setbacks and when you add in international football and play on astroturf pitches and then in Jamaica you are playing on a swamp of a pitch then those things add up.

“I would ideally be feeling in a bit of a better place than I am but I feel I am turning that corner now and hopefully I get through the run of games and kick on from there.”