Mikey Johnston suffers Celtic injury nightmare as Brendan Rodgers reveals star faces lengthy spell out

Mikey Johnston has been dealt a Celtic hammer blow as he is ruled out for approximately three months with a back injury.

The winger had jetted out to Portugal for Brendan Rodgers' first foreign pre-season training camp of his second spell but he now faces a rehabilitation period, the boss has confirmed to Irish media. A back injury has been picked up and having broke into the Republic of Ireland squad recently, he will now miss their crucial Euro 2024 double-header against France and the Netherlands in September.

Rodgers handed him his debut during his first spell in charge and the academy graduate spent last season out on loan at Portuguese side Vitoria. Asked if Johnston had a future under him second time around, the Parkhead boss responded: “His job is to convince myself and the coaches that he is ready for a place. Sadly for Mikey he is going to be out for a few more months.

"He had an issue with his back, sadly, so he’ll probably be out for near on three months. “But it’s the players’ responsibility and they have to show the quality and consistency and robustness in order to play and that is the job of every player.”

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