Johnston is facing lengthy spell out with knee injury

Celtic manager Neil Lennon expects Mikey Johnston to be out “long-term” after the winger suffered suspected knee ligament damage.

The scottish champions are still assessing the winger’ s injury after he went off against St Johnstone on Wednesday night.

But Lennon said: “It will be long-term. It was a bad twist. He says there was contact but it doesn’ t look like there was contact.

“It looks like he has twisted the knee and there is a bit of swelling there and ligament damage.”

Lennon was visibly frustrated after the substitute went off during Celtic’s 3-0 victory in Perth.

The Celtic manager made his third change in between johnston suffering the injury and coming off after the 20-year-old tried to play on.

“It might have compounded the problem,” he said. “It was annoying for me because we were making a substitution and he said he was alright to carry on.

“But quite clearly after a couple of minutes that wasn’t the case. We had already made the substitution. So it was a learning experience.”

Despite the fresh injury blow, Lennon remains relaxed about his transfer business ahead of tonight’s deadline, having signed midfielder Ismaila Soro and striker Patryk Kilmala this month.

Another winger, Mohamed Elyounoussi, will miss Sunday’s visit to Hamilton but the on-loan Southampton player is getting back into training following a foot problem.

“We are looking at options but we are not guaranteeing anything,” said Lennon.

“If we can do some business, great, if we can’t do some business, then great, because I am really pleased with the squad of players I have got.

“We have a good squad, decent depth and, once we get a few injuries back, we will be fine.

Lennon dismissed reports O li vie rn tc ham and craig gordon might depart this month when he spoke after the win in Perth, and he confirmed that gillingham had failed in a bid to sign Karamoko Dembele on loan.

“They made an inquiry about it and it was turned down,” said Lennon.

“I think this is the best place for him. We know of his capabilities, we know of his talent. Wear every excited about him but he is just going to turn 17 soon.

“We have to protect him and we have a duty of care with him in terms of his development but we want it here.”