Martin O’Neill insists Celtic owe it to Alistair Johnston to blast past LASK tonight and reach the Champions League, writes Michael Gannon in Linz.
The Hoops boss confirmed the full back will be out until mid-October after putting his body on the line for his team – which scuppered his chance of a big money move to Everton.
O’Neill admits transfer plans
O’Neill is considering signing options but would love to have Johnston returning and Celts to be in amongst the big boys in the group stage.
The Northern Irishman said: “It is a blow. He put himself out for us to play the game and it probably stopped him from getting to the Premier League.
“We’ll see how it goes but he’s a strong character. He was injured when I came in last October and needed surgery but he was remarkably upbeat.
“I spoke to him after the news and he shrugged it off as if to say, ‘that’s life’.
“Of course he’ll have time to think about it.
“The prognosis is sometime in October for him. It’s a couple of extra weeks than we first thought.
“It was a bit of a surprise because he played the opening game of the season and felt okay.
“He felt it before half-time at Kilmarnock but it felt more of precaution.
“But the results of the scan are really disappointing.”
Defensive options and Austrian test
O’Neill admitted the Johnston blow could force him into the transfer market with Celts already chasing midfield options and expected to land left back Landon Emenalo.
He said: “We’ll need to have a look at it. Colby (Donovan) came in and did really fine last Wednesday. He’s a character.
“If we are looking at European football, regardless of that may be, I just think we could do with a couple of extra players in.
“Hopefully that’s what we’ll do. We have Colby and Tony Ralston there. We’ve identified a coupe of lads and we’ll see how it goes.
“I hope that regardless of the result, we'll be in European football anyway, that will take us through until January, so I think that we still have to strengthen.”
Defender Auston Trusty sat out training in Glasgow yesterday due to illness but O’Neill expects the centre back to be on board in Austria as the Hoops look to seal the deal on the back of last week’s 3-0 first leg win.
The boss said: “He’s travelled. He had a bit of an upset stomach this morning, so he didn’t train.
“We’re hoping he’s okay. He’s been terrific for us.”
LASK vow and Stuttgart memories
LASK boss Dietmar Kuhbauer has vowed to throw the kitchen sink at Celts, but O’Neill insisted his men won’t be just parking the bus.
He said: “Of course we’ll expect that. I’d be surprised if they said anything else.
“They are a good side, physically strong with a bit of pace up front.
“Is it about not panicking? Absolutely. There will be very strong moments against us during the course of the game and we’ll try to deal with them.
“The game is going to be tough anyway – but we are capable of scoring.
“It’s important for us and it’s grounds for optimism.
“It could be a long 90 minutes. We have to try not to sit in too much, try to get forward and just go for it.
“If it turns into a basketball game then we need to take our chances.”
O’Neill would love a fast start like his Celts managed in Stuttgart in 2003 when the Parkhead men scored twice early on to go 5-1 up in the UEFA Cup tie – only to endure a nervy end to the clash.
He said: “We were essentially 5-1 up – with the away goals counting then as well – so we were in really good shape.
“But Stuttgart found some good form and came roaring back. It felt like we were hanging on in the last 10 minutes.
“It was so long ago I could make it up and say it was always the plan!
“I do remember Didier Agathe was unstoppable down the line and it worked out in the end.”
