The Hoops have been informed that they have a ready-made alternative for their skipper.
Callum McGregor is at the prime of his Celtic career.
However, Steven Caldwell believes the Hoops have a ready-made successor as captain when the Hoops hero retires. McGregor, 30, is one of the most decorated Parkhead players in history, having won five Trebles and made over 450 games for his hometown club. The crucial midfielder is the throbbing heart of Brendan Rodgers’ club and has plenty left in the tank before he even considers retiring.
However, if Alistair Johnston is still at Parkhead when CalMac retires, Caldwell believes the Canadian would be a suitable replacement. In his job as assistant to interim Canada coach Mauro Biello, former Scotland great Caldwell is well aware of the 25-year-old’s abilities. Caldwell believes the right-back has the leadership characteristics to take on the job of captain one day.
He told the Scottish Sun: “Alistair has developed significantly, and you’ll only get better playing at the level he’s now at. You can see his comprehension in action on the right side. We play him on the right side of the defence, sometimes known as right back. He’s expanded his game in terms of forward movement and the various positional positions he may occupy in games.
“Alistair is also an extremely inquisitive child. He wants to learn and improve, and he’s soaking in all of the material he’s been given to help him become a more complete athlete. Since joining Celtic, he has become a crucial member of the Canadian squad.
“The fact that he’ll be playing in some of the high-profile games at the conclusion of the season in Scotland will help him develop. It will also aid us as we prepare for some key games in the coming months. Can I imagine him as captain? I surely can.
“Alistair is a smart kid who understands the game and what he wants. By the time he’s in his 30s, I can see him taking on leadership responsibilities for Celtic or Canada. He is open to discussion and is not closed in terms of where he is, and he has no ego.
“He has no hubris, which is one of his greatest characteristics and the reason he will continue to improve. We’ve tried to foster an environment in which everyone feels heard. They must assume some responsibility for pushing the group to improve its training and on-field performance.
“We want to push our programme to the next level. However, everyone in our team has a fantastic attitude. They are a terrific group of guys. They have comparable ages, which is amazing.”
