Alistair Johnston is yet to fully participate this season due to a recurring knee issue.
The Glasgow Celtic midfielder has been troubled by the problem since summer training and has only featured in five games across all tournaments, all as a substitute.
Johnston’s most recent appearance was in Celtic’s 3-1 victory at Aberdeen on August 20, and he has been absent for his team’s last three games leading up to Saturday’s League visit from Hibernian.
Is Glasgow’s Alistair Johnston playing this weekend?
Johnston completed a £48m transfer from Brighton to Celtic in summer 2024 and scored 12 goals in 38 games during his initial season with the team.
However, the current season has been more trying for the 26-year-old, who would have aimed to make an immediate impact under coach Brendan Rodgers following the Irishman’s return this summer.
After appearing as a 68th-minute substitute in Celtic’s Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, Johnston was limited to brief cameos in the opening two League games against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen and has not featured since.
He is still awaiting his first start under Rodgers, who announced before last Saturday’s draw at Motherwell that the Scotland midfielder was nearing a return to play.
“The good news is he is back training and has been for a few days,” the Celtic boss mentioned to The Scotsman. “He is making progress – steadily, but surely.”
And while Tuesday’s League Cup victory against Inverness Caledonian Thistle was “too soon”, according to Rodgers, Johnston may be ready to be on the bench against bottom-placed Hibernian.
Celtic will be aiming for maximum points against a team who have lost all of their opening five league games.
It would continue a promising start under Rodgers, whose team have gained 12 points this season to be second in the league.
