Johnston hamstring concern mars Celtic's win at Hibernian
Alistair Johnston's brief substitute appearance in Celtic's 2-1 win at Hibernian ended with another hamstring concern, while Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to action.
Celtic's 2-1 Scottish Premiership win at Hibernian was overshadowed by a fresh fitness concern for right-back Alistair Johnston, whose substitute appearance lasted only 21 minutes before it was cut short. Manager Martin O'Neill said the Canada international "felt something again" and that a scan will be needed to establish the extent of the problem.
Johnston, 28, missed most of last season with hamstring issues and had been out since early August after the injury recurred. O'Neill told BBC Scotland that neither he nor the club doctor could yet say what the player is feeling, adding that anyone with a history of hamstring trouble tends to worry about even a minor niggle.
There was better news in central defence, where Cameron Carter-Vickers came through the final 17 minutes after replacing Johnston. The United States defender had been absent since mid-September, and O'Neill welcomed the return of key players, stressing that the squad needs every available body.
Camilo Duran scored the winner after Jason Kerr's own goal had levelled for Hibs, as Celtic responded to Thursday's 2-1 home Europa League defeat by Celta Vigo. It was a ninth Scottish Premiership win in 10 games and restored Celtic's four-point lead at the top. Dundee United visit Celtic Park on Wednesday, with three more fixtures before the next international break.
O'Neill described the result as Celtic's best win of the season given the circumstances, the conditions and the midweek loss, even though he felt the team did not play particularly well. He noted that Celtic scored quickly after Hibs' equaliser and repeated his view that Easter Road is always a difficult venue.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
