It always seems to happen when things are going well, doesn't it?

The Scottish Premiership champions had come flying out of the traps and won five out of five league and League Cup matches, including a 3-0 routing of Rangers.

However, along came the international break and prayers were for those on tours of duty. Then it happened. There was a collective gasp by the Celtic supporters late on Saturday night. Anybody but Alistair Johnston.

The right-back limped off midway through the first half of Canada’s 2-1 friendly win over the USA in Kansas at the weekend. Cue the fear. The stories immediately swept social media about the nature of the hamstring injury and how long it would keep him out.

Johnston has had a fantastic start to the campaign, with the 25-year-old an ever-present in Brendan Rodgers’ team since the start of the season. He's racked up a goal and an assist and even helped the Celtic backline keep four clean sheets in the process.

Since making his debut at Ibrox in a 2-2 draw against their city rivals on January 2023, Johnston has flourished as a Celtic player. He has thrived on the club culture of winning and the environment created firstly under Ange Postecoglou and now Brendan Rodgers.

His ice hockey background in Canada showed that he takes no prisoners on the rink, and he is a footballer who constantly needs and plays with an edge. Those are qualities that have endeared him to those who inhabit Glasgow's east end.

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Johnston won the domestic 'treble' within four months of his arrival in Glasgow but is constantly striving for more. He is widely regarded as one of Celtic's 'Untouchables'.

Johnston is a heck of a talent. He is different to most footballers and like Matt O'Riley, he is an articulate man and represents Celtic in the best way possible both on and off the field. He takes life in his stride and also like O'Riley, whenever he speaks always has something interesting to say.

He talks of himself as being an athlete rather than a footballer. He is serious when it comes to playing for Celtic and being the best he can be. Like last week for example when he gave an interview to a Canadian podcast 'Footy Prime'. Johnston spoke like a veteran yet he has only been at the club for less than two years.

Johnston said: "Once I got to the training facility, I saw the levels. I think that’s the biggest thing I really enjoy – we’re all competitors, we want to see what the highest level is we can get to. You want to be around the best players, you want to be around the best coaches – that was something I got as soon as I got through that door.

“It’s going to be competitive and you need to be on it every single day. The coaching is unbelievable. I’ve been lucky enough to have Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers.

“It’s top, top stuff. You’re learning, you’re pushing yourself and you’re seeing what level it is I can reach. What is my full potential? That’s something that, deep down, every single athlete wants."

(Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group)

How refreshing is it to hear a player say things like that? He's not seeing Celtic as some sort of stepping stone to further his career. He sees Celtic as a club that can help him progress and develop into the athlete/footballer that he clearly wants to be.

It is a small wonder that Johnston is already being spoken about in terms of being the best right-back the club has had in two decades. Johnston in the long run has proven himself to be a better signing than Josip Juranovoc and 'Fireball' was adored by the Celtic supporters.

He's also been likened to club legend Danny McGrain. That may well be hyperbolic at the minute but if Johnston does stick around for a few more years then the praise will be gushing. It's no surprise then that he sought out the advice of Victor Wanyama who sold him on a move to the club as both have a similar winning mentality needed to succeed at a club like Celtic.

Johnston bought into the club from day one. He's emotionally invested in it now. He's passionate. He is a manager's dream. He ticks every box going.

With the possible exceptions of skipper Callum McGregor, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyogo Furhashi there was a collective weeping, wailing and a gnashing of teeth by the Celtic supporters on Saturday night at the thought that Johnston was injured.

'Untouchables' are not allowed to be injured, are they?

Although Canada national team boss Jesse Marsch allayed many Celtic fans' fears by saying: “Alistair said he felt a little bit of tightness in his hamstring and he felt it was smarter to step out." Going back to the podcast, Johnston gave a unique insight into his mindset when it comes to dealing with injuries.

Johnston said: "As soon as I walked in the door and got a couple of training sessions under my belt I knew this is exactly where I want to be and exactly where I need to be. And once you get out there and start playing, you realise, ‘I’m not going to give up my starting spot, I will fight through every injury, whatever it takes, I need to be out there playing’.”

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The Canadian's participation and availability for Celtic’s next three fixtures is vital. First up is a Scottish Premiership encounter against Hearts at Celtic Park, followed by the first Champions League tie against Slovan Bratislava on September 18. The third game sees Celtic facing Falkirk in the League Cup on September 22. The month of September could have a massive bearing on Celtic's season. Johnston will be right in the thick of it. He is determined to be out there playing. He has developed into a leader within the Celtic dressing room. He's an agenda-setter.

As Rodgers said: "Celtic won't be the end game for some of these players, but it's going to give them so much. When you leave here you are a winner, a better footballer and ready to play for any team in the world. It's the model of the club.

"Callum (McGregor), James (Forrest) these guys, they love being here; they’ve had opportunities to move, but have stayed happy in Scotland. They’re happy playing for Celtic and happy winning trophies."

You get the feeling that Johnston is content with his lot. He may well fall into the McGregor and Forrest category because everything Johnston does is for the good of the Celtic team. You also get the feeling that Johnston likes it at Celtic. He is becoming a better athlete/footballer. He is hoovering up silverware. He is winning. He is successful.  There's a word for that: 'Untouchable'. 

Whilst he ain't no Daniel Fergus McGrain just yet, Johnston is a future Celtic captain in the making.