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"This is the first trophy of the year – and it is not our last either. It is nice in February to already have one in the trophy case and we plan on adding some more so stick with us and we'll keep the good times rolling. 

"It was really cool. You can see the passion as well when we are heading back from the stadium and people are honking their horns and out on the street. It is just mental like that and that puts it into perspective how important it is to win trophies at this club."

Those were the words of Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston as he paraded the League Cup back at Parkhead on Sunday night.

The Hoops had beaten Rangers at Hampden earlier in the day and he rightfully got cheered to the rafters. It was the Canada international's first-ever trophy success as a professional player. It's safe to say it won't be his last, not by a long shot.

Of all the players that Ange Postecoglou has recruited since he became Hoops boss, few have had as seamless a start as the right-back. It's the kind of detail that flies under the radar – unless you highlight it of course.

Three short months ago, the prospect of losing Josip Juranovic had the Celtic faithful up in arms. However, Postecoglou didn't bat an eyelid; he had planned for it. He snapped up the Canadian during the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar. 

READ MORE: The masterclass at the heart of Celtic's League Cup Rangers rinsing

The rest of Scottish football and Celtic supporters all around the world then tuned in to see how good a player Johnston actually was at the greatest football tournament of them all.

Johnston and co. turned in stellar displays despite going down 1-0 to Belgium, 4-1 to beaten 2018 finalists and 2022 semi-finalists Croatia and 2-1 to eventual 2022 semi-finalists Morocco. No disgrace there.  However, playing against some of the best operators on planet football was a fantastic learning curve for the defender.

He is a quick learner, you see. Johnston then flew to Scotland and was thrust into the white-hot heat of a Glasgow Derby for his Celtic debut at Ibrox. It finished 2-2 as the Scottish champions remained nine points clear at the top of the league table.

The 24-year-old made an instant impact in Govan, although he did allow Rangers winger Ryan Kent enough space to bend one into the top corner to make it 1-1. I did say he was a quick learner – and learn he did.

Celtic Way:

It largely explains why he played like a boss in the League Cup final. Kent never got past him once as Johnston bounced into challenges as if he was playing ice hockey in his native land. Rangers players hit the turf frequently as Celtic's new hero smashed his opponents into imaginary plexiglass.

The Canadian didn't put a foot wrong at the national stadium. He was an absolute rock and looked as if he has been the Celtic right-back for three years, not three months.

Johnston's got a bit about him all right. He's as hard as a coffin nail, for a start. He's also got what could be deemed 'selective devilment'; he knows exactly when and how to channel his natural aggression and anger into something more productive and useful for the team. A bit radio-rental... but in the right way.

How the Celtic fans have lapped up the videos of Johnston chasing down Kent near the end and then brushing off Borna Barisic as if he wasn't there before slotting in Sead Haksbanovic for a wonderful chance at goal. The right-back showed Rangers nothing but competitive contempt and did all of his talking on the field where it mattered most. He earned his first career trophy by turning up for the big occasion.

Here's something else you may have missed but in the midst of the action: there was a quite sublime Ronald Koeman-esque long ball that landed right at the feet of double goalscoring hero Kyogo Furuhashi, who darted in on goal and fell as Allan McGregor came out to meet him.

Yet to call it a long ball is actually doing Johnston a disservice. It was a beauty and deserved a Kyogo finish.

Another thing: who was it who landed a fantastic cross flush on the Japanese forward's head for a chance he really ought to have scored just before the break? You've guessed it. Johnston.

Who was it whose energy levels could have rivalled Daizen Maeda's in the closing 15 minutes? Yip, Johnston's. He was a serious man-of-the-match candidate.

What an impact the Canadian has already made in a Celtic shirt. He is an exceptional defender. He has played in two Glasgow Derbies and is already a proud owner of a League Cup medal. The memories of Juranovic are slowly but surely fading away for those who adore the green and white.

There have been many decisions that Postecoglou has made since taking over the managerial reins in Glasgow's east end – the recruitment of Johnston may well be right up there already.

This piece is an extract from the latest Celtic Digest newsletter, which is emailed out every weekday evening with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from The Celtic Way team.

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