Johnston plots European route to a regular place
● Cetic winger sees clash in Estonia as a vital stepping-stone in bid to become a first-choice player
0 Christopher Jullien trains at Celtic Park yesterday before flying to Tallinn, where, according to manager Neil Lennon, the £7 million signing from Toulouse will make his debut against Estonian champions Nomme Kalju tonight. The 26-year-old French defender will help protect Celtic’s 5-0 lead from the first leg of the Champions League 2nd qualifying round tie.
Mikey Johnston wants to use Celtic’s Champions League qualifying campaign to cement a regular place in Neil Lennon’s side.
The 20-year-old winger impressed in a goalscoring display against Sarajevo in the opening round and is set to be given another chance against Estonian champions Nomme Kalju tonight.
Celtic may be 5-0 up from the first leg of their second qualifying round tie, but the clash is still another important stepping stone for Johnston ahead of Saturday’s Ladbrokes Premiership opener against St Johnstone. “Hopefully we can get the job done and maybe I’ll get some more minutes,” he said.
“There’s a lot we can get out of it in terms of getting game time, and we want to get the job done.
“The season is starting next week as well so it’s something we can take things from.
“It’s always going to be tough (with competition for places) at a big club like Celtic, but I hope it’s going to be a big season for me. I’ve just got to keep working hard and hopefully I can get chances.”
Assuming they finish the job, Celtic will face either Israeli side Maccabi Telaviv or Cluj of Romania in the third qualifying round.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon will give new signing Christopher Jullien his eagerlyawaited debut against Nomme Kalju tonight.
Powerful defender Jullien has been building up his match fitness since his £7 million switch from Toulouse, and Lennon is ready to unleash him in Tallinn.
“Jullien needs some game time so he will start,” said Lennon. “There’s a few players we want to get up to match sharpness.
“He’s been patient, he’s worked very hard, he’s had a couple of bounce games and he’s ready to play now.”
Lennon also revealed that Callum Mcgregor, pictured, and James Forrest have not travelled in order to give them a rest ahead of Saturday’s Premiership opener against St Johnstone.
Despite Celtic being all but certain of a place in the third qualifying round, Lennon has demanded another professional performance.
“Obviously we are in a very strong position but it’s a game we want to win,” he added.
“We’ll change a few of the players but we’re here to win the tie and keep the momentum going with the league campaign starting on Saturday.
“Complacency is your enemy in a situation like this. Most people will see Celtic’s qualification as a foregone conclusion but we have to be as professional as we can.
“It’s important to come here, compete and try to win the game. These are difficult ties in the Champions League and we must prepare the team as best as we can.”
Kalju may face a thankless task but the match, which has been moved to the 14,400-capacity A. Le Coq Arena, is still a huge occasion for the Estonian side. Their coach, Roman Kozhukhovskyi, said: “We are very much looking forward to the game and will go into it with maximum effort.
“It has been a very busy week with a lot of analysing the mistakes we made in Glasgow and trying to eliminate them in Tallinn.
“It’s a big game and no one needs extra motivation.”
Captain Maximiliano Ugge smiled as he added: “This is football, anything can happen.
“We know that scoring five goals is certainly not easy, but we’ll do our best.”
DETERMINATION
“It’s always going to be tough (with competition for places) at a big club like Celtic, but I hope it’s going tobeabigseasonfor me. I’ve just got to keep working hard and hopefully I can get chances”
MIKEY JOHNSTON
“Complacency is your enemy in a situation like this. Most people will see Celtic’s qualification as a foregone conclusion butwehavetobeas professional as we can”
NEIL LENNON