Celtic's Johnston Returns to Training Amidst Araujo's Uncertain Future

After a lengthy absence, Alistair Johnston has resumed training with Celtic, but the club's loan defender, Julian Araujo, may have played his final game due to a recurring thigh issue. Johnston, who has been sidelined since October with a hamstring injury, rejoined his teammates at the Lennoxtown training complex in preparation for the upcoming Scottish Premiership match against St Mirren. Meanwhile, Araujo, who is recovering from a thigh problem at his parent club Bournemouth, has experienced a setback. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed optimism about Johnston's progress, stating, 'He trained with the team today, which was very encouraging.' However, O'Neill's outlook on Araujo's situation is less promising, as he revealed, 'I don't think we will see him for the rest of the season.' Additionally, right-back Colby Donovan will miss the upcoming game due to a hamstring injury and may also be absent from the Scottish Cup tie. The return of the Green Brigade to Celtic Park after a five-month ban has been lifted is expected to provide a boost to the team. O'Neill acknowledged the significance of the fans' support, saying, 'The safety regulations have been sorted, and that would give us a boost, absolutely.' As the title race intensifies, O'Neill acknowledged that Hearts' current position at the top of the table is advantageous, but emphasized that the outcome remains uncertain.