Celtic star Sam Johnstone opens up on baptism of fire during Old Firm
Sam Johnstone has opened up on his baptism of fire after arriving at Celtic late in the summer transfer window.
The veteran goalkeeper was signed on loan at the end of the window after Celtic went all summer without signing a back-up keeper despite having an obvious need.
Viljami Sinisalo looks to be the number one, but Martin O'Neill has rotated Johnstone into the team for two stretches, and the most recent is in the last two games.
Before that Johnstone was dropped in for the St Johnstone clash and the second Rangers Old Firm, and the keeper struggled, with distribution in both of those games. It was particularly exposed in the second.
Johnstone recalled via Daily Record: “I’ll never turn down playing. When someone asks me if I want to play, it’s not in my nature to be saying it’s a tough game or it’s a big game. My mentality is to play and to do my best.
“That [defeat to Rangers] was six or seven weeks ago now. I feel like a different goalkeeper, a different person.”
Asked about how he has progressed of late, the keeper added: "I’ve just got a good block of work in. As you know, coming to a new club, the way we play here is different to where I’ve been previously at different clubs.
“So it was just a case of getting used to that, getting used to the lads in training, getting used to how we do things. I think this block of training for the last six or seven weeks has really helped me.”
He added: "I don’t think anyone can prepare you for that game, especially away with no away fans. It was a tough one because of the result and the size of the game. I’ve never experienced anything like that before in my career.
“Again, great to play in, but the result hurt us. I don’t think anything can prepare you for those games until you play in them.”
On how he is enjoying his time at Celtic so far, Johnstone continued: “I enjoy coming in every day. I enjoy training. It’s great to work with Woodsy and Michael McGovern helps as well. It’s a good group.”
Johnstone has done fine with his goalkeeping, but he has struggled with his distribution, where Sinisalo has an edge on him. The veteran is going to have to adapt if he wants to take that number one spot.
