How Brendan Rodgers unlocked Alistair Johnston 2.0 as Celtic star heading for megabucks bracket of £25m stars

Alistair Johnston has always had the fight. But the finesse is now being added as his rapid career ascent continues working with Brendan Rodgers.

The manager took hold of a highly-talented young full-back in Kieran Tierney and turned him into a £25 million superstar. Rodgers appears to be taking Johnston along a similar path. Celtic chiefs entering into discussions with the impressive performer to lift the levels of his current deal coincide perfectly with the sparkling lift in his game.

From the minute he signed from MLS side Montreal, Johnston came across as a battler and a winner. A player of ice-hockey in his youth, he clearly relished the rough and tumble of that sport which had toughened him up and ensured he would never shirk a fight or a scrap from rink to field. Straight into a debut against Rangers at Ibrox, he didn’t take long to prove that.

Thundering into challenges, refusing to back down in any physical confrontations, Johnston quickly won his way into the hearts of the support. Ange Postecoglou had clearly secured a gem when he was replacing the outgoing Josip Juranovic.

Given the Croat’s popularity amongst the supporters and his ability to deliver in the big games, that was no easy task, yet Johnston sailed through the initial examination. He made strong contributions in the second-half of Postecoglou’s Treble-winning season and maintained many of his impressive traits upon the arrival of Rodgers.

However, there was one key area for growth. While Greg Taylor on the other side had mastered the art of making goals and scored the odd one himself, Johnston didn’t have the same numbers In a team which dominates possession and plays a system designed to have full-backs making a major contribution to damage