Alistair Johnston reveals Celtic injury fear after X-rated Lundstram lunge left him with ELEVEN stud marks

Alistair Johnston has revealed how he was left with a swollen ankle, a bloody gash and 11 stud marks on his leg following John Lundstram’s horror Old Firm tackle.

And the Canadian international admitted he feared he might miss the rest of the season after having the same leg operated on less than 12 months ago. Johnston was left in a crumpled heap after being floored by Lundstram’s lunge shortly before half time in Sunday’s Scottish Premiership title defining derby at Parkhead.

The Scouser was shown a straight red card for the foul after an intervention from VAR - a decision which left Rangers down to ten men and on their way to a hugely significant 2-1 defeat. And ahead of his side’s potential title party at Rugby Park, Johnston spoke for the first time about the damage Lundstram inflicted.

He said: “In the moment I was concerned, just because it was the ankle I did previously. That was the one that nearly ended my season last year when I had to get surgery. So I was a bit worried but luckily they did some tests on it and structurally it was good. It was just swollen and pretty bruised, which kind of affected the mobility of it and my confidence in it for the rest of the match.

“But structurally it was sound and that was the most important thing. I knew it was bad. My socks were ripped and I had blood everywhere so I had a feeling this one might need to go to VAR! I saw the yellow come out and, to be fair, I saw the ball 30 yards away and thought maybe he did win the ball. But he definitely won me as well.

“I didn’t realise how bad it was until I saw the replay of it. In the moment he caught me pretty good, but it looked even worse than that in the replay. A gash went halfway up my leg as well and down the side of it. I