Chris Sutton Names One Celtic Star Who’s “Really Improving” Under Rodgers

Chris Sutton has praised Celtic defender Alistair Johnston for his marked improvement under the guidance of manager Brendan Rodgers.

Johnston, who joined Celtic from MLS club Montreal in January 2022, has elevated his Game significantly since his arrival, particularly shining in the early stages of this season.

Sutton highlighted Johnston’s enhanced performances during a discussion with Casino Apps about Celtic’s recent transfer activities. He specifically pointed out the impact of Rodgers’ coaching on players’ development, using Johnston as a prime example.

“They’ve made a fair few signings. Arne Engels, 20-year-old from Augsburg, Belgian international, who has joined for a club record fee of £11m. That’s a considerable amount of money For Celtic to spend and he comes in with a good reputation.

“Brendan’s strongest suit, in my opinion, is improving players.

“If you look at Matt O’Riley, Ange Postecoglou brought him to Celtic and did a brilliant job, but last season, you could see he had taken his Game to another level.

“Brendan nurtured him really well and that was why Brighton really wanted to sign him, which they eventually did, for a club record sales fee for Celtic of up to £30m.

“You can also see that Alistair Johnston is really improving under Brendan’s coaching.”

Johnston Impressive in Derby Win

Alistair Johnston delivered a standout performance in Celtic’s coMMAnding win over Rangers in the Glasgow Derby.

The right-back was a key figure in the match, not only solidifying his defensive duties but also making significant contributions on the offensive front.

Johnston was instrumental in setting up Celtic’s first goal with a sharp cutback that was converted by Daizen Maeda, earning him an assist. Over the course of the Game, he maintained an impressive passing accuracy of 82% from 74 touches. [FotMob]

Defensively, Johnston was flawless. He won all of his tackle attempts. Additionally, he blocked a shot and made four clearances, contributing significantly to Celtic’s clean sheet on the day. His aerial prowess was also on full display as he won every duel in the air.

It’s looking like AJ is going to have a really good season for Celtic.