Johnston: Fire and ice will help secure trophies
Alistair Johnston feels Celtic’s “fire and ice” double act can be crucial in helping the club win silverware.
The Canadian full-back slung in the cross from which Kyogo Furuhashi headed home the Hoops’ crucial second goal in yesterday’s 3-0 win over St Mirren.
Then, after the Japanese had been rested to the bench, he helped his replacement, Adam Idah, celebrate the late score that took his record to seven goals in 12 appearances. “Kyogo’s movement was excellent, and it was a great header,” said Johnston.
“You put the ball in a dangerous area and he is there most of the time. He is unbelievable in the air for such a small guy. “You see him in the changing room, and you think ‘There’s no way that’s the top scorer in Scotland for the past year or so’. But he just has that knack, his movement, his positioning and his quality.
“His prowess in the air is second to none, honestly. He provides something and then you bring on big Adam Idah at the end and it’s just a centre-back’s worst nightmare. “You’ve got a guy who’s been playing off your shoulder the entire game, then you’ve got a guy who’s bigger than you, who can run the channels as fast as anyone.
“So, it is nice we can have that fire and ice combo in a way that can really annoy centre-half.”
It is a combination that, with three home games to come from five post-split fixtures – including the visit of rivals Rangers – helps convince Johnston silverware lies in Celtic’s future.
“We know exactly what we need to do. We know the permutations that if we win out, we’re going to finish with two trophies. That’s exciting for us,” he said.
“To play at Celtic you need to have a big personality and relish these moments. You can’t shy away from being in a title race and playing in big games.
“We’ve got five more league games, a cup semi-final and hopefully a final as well.
“It is just a handful of games, and each one is a make-or-break in a way.
“It’s going to take some big personalities, and I think we have the right leadership in this locker room to be able to do that. We’re getting guys like Callum Mcgregor back. He has been a part of quite a few of these title lead-ins, so it’s exciting to have that.
“When you have that right leadership there who have the experience, then the real hunger of the younger guys who want to lift trophies, I think it’s a good combination.
“We have six or seven games left and there is a great chance that if we can control our own destiny, we can walk away with two trophies.”