Martin O’Neill has explained why he substituted Alistair Johnston on against Hibernian, with the defender being forced off 20 minutes later.

In another blow for Celtic, O’Neill confirmed that Johnston would be sidelined until after the upcoming November international break.

It means he’s set to miss four fixtures, but could be back for the home match against St Mirren on November 21.

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Johnston replaced Colby Donovan in the second half at Easter Road, but was forced off in the 73rd minute. The decision was met with some criticism from supporters, with many feeling he was rushed back or that the medical team was to blame for giving him the green light to play.

O’Neill has explained why he sent the Canadian on after 52 minutes.

“Listen, Alistair will be aware of this”, O’Neill told Celtic Player. “You don’t play the football matches just for the sake of someone coming back. It’s the same with Carter-Vickers coming back here with an injury. We’re always concerned about hamstrings.

“And the idea was that we could maybe give Alistair maybe 30 minutes of the game. Alistair is well aware of this.”

The Celtic boss admitted that if Donovan had not had a slight injury issue himself, then Johnston probably wouldn’t have been called upon.

“In all honesty, if Colby had not been injured at the time, chances are we wouldn’t have put Alistair on. And he would have accepted that, even though in his mind he’s thinking that he’d get the last 30 minutes to get himself into it. But the circumstance of the game dictated everything.

“And we were, swirling wind, Hibs pressing forward at the time. So Colby being injured allowed us that opportunity. But had he not been, I’m not so sure whether I would have put Alistair on at the time.

“And similarly, obviously with the change then, and Dane going to right back, and in comes Carter-Vickers. It was needs must for us at that time. So in terms of being careful with Alistair, yeah, absolutely.

“These are injuries that, up until last season, you’ve never picked up. I’ve done it myself as a player. You get a hamstring injury, you know, later in your career.

“My first hamstring was when I was 28 or something. You’re saying, what is this? So, it is a concern.”

It seems like the initial plan was not to give Johnston any minutes, but injuries during the match changed that. The 28-year-old would’ve been eager to return to action, only for another injury setback to appear.

Johnston’s fitness will need to be handled even more carefully when he returns in November. It will be a frustrating period for him, especially having missed the majority of last season and the bulk of this one.