Cast your collective minds back to February 25, 2024, at Fir Park in Motherwell.

Blair Spittal had just rifled home an unstoppable strike from just outside of the box to put his side 1-0 up against Celtic just before half-time. The away support were despondent – and angry – as their team’s title race looked to be all at sea in North Lanarkshire that Sunday afternoon.

You may have missed it, but a very unique event happened on the right-hand side of the defence when that Spittal goal went into the back of Joe Hart’s net. Alistair Johnston – who had just returned from a facial injury sustained at Easter Road two games prior – threw his protective mask to the side of the pitch, a show of defiance in the face of defeat. He was not prepared to suffer defeat on his return to the starting line-up. The rest – as they say – is history.

Celtic went on to win that game 3-1, with the Canada stalwart assisting Adam Idah’s pivotal goal in stoppage-time to secure all three points. Quite a comeback, considering he was dramatically stretchered off in Edinburgh just 18 days prior. Indeed, that injury was probably the sole low point in what has been an incredible year in the 25-year-old’s senior career, for both club and country.

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Focusing first on matters firmly on the field of play, the right-back won another two trophies for the club he joined just a year and a half ago. To put that into perspective, make that FIVE trophies in just over 18 months at Celtic. Having made 62 appearances in that period, the Canadian currently averages a trophy every 12 and a half games – a frightening statistic that many at Celtic (and elsewhere) will no doubt envy.

Johnston would play a key role in the second half of last season, being a virtual ever-present in Brendan Rodgers’ side that wrestled and fought their way to the Scottish Premiership title, before securing the double at Hampden in May with the Scottish Cup. Not a shy individual by any means, the defender is a vocal presence at the back for Celtic, and indeed off the park, too. You only have to watch or listen to one of his press conferences or interviews to eliminate any notion of timidness on the Canadian’s part.

With this domestic double, Johnston travelled to the 2024 Copa America – held in the USA – in fine form with his national team, the first time that Canada had qualified for the tournament in their history. Managed by former Celtic managerial candidate Jesse Marsch, ‘The Canucks’ and Johnston had a stellar first appearance in the competition, finishing fourth overall after losing on penalties to Uruguay in the third-place play-off, after falling to eventual tournament winners Argentina in the semi-final 2-0.

Johnston himself was Canada’s standout player in the tournament, according to the competition’s analytical team. Appearing in the best XI alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Raphinha and James Rodriguez, the Celtic right-back flew the flag high for both club and country, as his performances for Canada mirrored his stellar displays for his employers in Scotland. 48 caps at the age of just 25 highlights just how much his nation values him, as both a player and an individual.

Just five days after the Uruguay game, Johnston took the next step in his life off of the pitch, as he proposed to his girlfriend Peyton Pesavento at Turnberry in Ayrshire. “Forever and ever” was the Instagram caption used – he will be hoping the good fortunes in his life will stay just as long, too!

Though Callum McGregor is very comfortably the incumbent Celtic captain – long may he reign – there are always conversations amongst the support concerning who should be next in line to don the armband. In the current line-up, Celtic have a number of capable candidates, such as Greg Taylor (if he signs a new deal) and Cameron Carter-Vickers, though the most obvious long-term candidate may be under the club’s nose in the shape of Johnston.

Contracted until the summer of 2027, the right-back has three years left on his current deal at the club. You would assume that this may be an area that needs to be assessed, as the wages he is currently on may not be in line with the player’s growing importance on the team. Johnston – after a mixed start concerning form under his new manager – now seems to be a fully converted disciple of Rodgers’ parish, understanding fully what his coach wants from him on the field. A tricky transition, especially compared to the radical inverted ways of Ange Postecoglou’s play style, who signed the right-back from CF Montreal in his homeland.

This Sunday signifies Johnston’s second full season as a Celtic player – his third overall. Now one of the more senior members of the squad, he will be gearing up for another gruelling season, as he and his club will fight on four fronts this season for success and/or silverware domestically and in Europe respectively. Speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, Johnston was full of praise for his teammates, as he looked forward to Sunday’s opener versus Kilmarnock on Flag Day. He said: “For us, it's all about being strong domestically and taking another step in Europe.

“You could see that the guys were taking on board exactly what the manager was asking. It is another year under Brendan under our belt and you could see the ideas really formulating (in pre-season). I think it will be an exciting day (Flag Day) for our supporters.

“We need to start the season right and there is no better way to do that than at home on Flag Day.”

Spoken like a true veteran – or a captain – Johnston sounds like a player hungry for the campaign to begin, even though his last one only ended just under a month ago. An individual who understands the assignment expected of him every single time he takes to the field, he will be looking to add to his already impressive trophy haul when trophy season comes around.

You would not bet against the Canadian to achieve such feats again in this campaign.