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Martin O’Neill has offered a timely update on Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand as Celtic prepare for their Scottish Cup semi-final meeting with St Mirren at Hampden.
With the campaign reaching a critical stage, fitness concerns have come into sharper focus, and O’Neill has moved to clarify where both players stand. While there has been progress in recent weeks, neither Johnston nor Osmand will be ready to feature in the weekend’s tie.
Johnston, a key figure at right-back when available, continues to work his way back from a troublesome hamstring injury that has sidelined him for a prolonged spell. The Canadian has returned to more structured training and is back out on the grass, but he has yet to reach the level required for match action.
O’Neill is keen to avoid any unnecessary risks, particularly given the stop-start nature of Johnston’s recovery so far. There had been tentative hope he might make the squad, but that has now faded, with the semi-final arriving too soon. The focus instead is on ensuring he is fully prepared for the closing weeks of the season.
Osmand finds himself in a similar position. The young forward, who had shown promise earlier in the campaign, is also recovering from a hamstring issue and remains short of full sharpness. His return is being handled with care, and while he is progressing steadily, he will not be involved at Hampden.
To aid both players, Celtic are considering arranging a “bounce game” to rebuild match fitness in a controlled setting.
Injuries have disrupted Celtic’s rhythm throughout the season, but attention now turns firmly to St Mirren, with O’Neill expected to rely on experience as his side chase a place in the final.
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