Sport: Soccer Country: England Category: Scores & Results

Sam Johnstone faces selection choice after successful Celtic debut

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 10, 2026, 12:03 PM

Last updated Sep 10, 2026

Sam Johnstone faces selection choice after successful Celtic debut

Summary

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone made his first league appearance for Celtic in 21 months during the team's 1-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. The Wolves loanee recorded three saves, including an instinctive stop from Joel Cotterill, to help maintain the club's 100% league record. Manager Martin O'Neill started Johnstone in place of Viljami Sinisalo, stating that the performance provided a difficult decision for the upcoming League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. Former goalkeeper Pat Bonner noted that while Johnstone looked commanding, O'Neill now holds two viable options for the starting position against Rangers on Sunday. Johnstone completed 31 of 38 passes during the match, though he experienced some cramp before the final whistle.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Sam Johnstone kept a clean sheet in his 1-0 debut victory against St Johnstone.
•The 33-year-old goalkeeper made three saves during the match.
•Manager Martin O'Neill is weighing his options between Johnstone and Viljami Sinisalo.
•Celtic travels to Ibrox to face Rangers in a League Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Latest Updates

12:03 PMYahoo Sports — Has Johnstone earned a derby start at Ibrox?

What they're saying

"
Sam Johnstone's smile beamed like the McDiarmid Park floodlights after the goalkeeper's accomplished Celtic debut. Making his first league appearance in 21 months, the Wolves loanee impressed as Celtic preserved their 100% start with a hard-fought 1-0 win at St Johnstone. Johnstone was something of a surprise inclusion in place of Viljami Sinisalo - but has he played his way into the team for Sunday's League Cup quarter-final with Rangers at Ibrox?
— Yahoo Sports

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