Sam Johnstone of Celtic warms up before the UEFA Europa League match between Celtic FC and Real Club Celta at Celtic Park on October 22, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has spoken of his nightmare Celtic debut at Ibrox, and is adamant that the experience has made him a different goalkeeper and a different person.
The former England international currently on loan from Wolves was thrown in at the deep end as he was selected to play at Ibrox, and like the rest of his teammates the 33 year old had a nightmare as the Hoops suffered a 3-0 defeat to crash out of the Premier Sports Cup.
Johnstone has now started the last two fixtures, and is hoping to get a longer run in the side.
13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Sam Johnstone of Celtic checks his gloves after Dan Neil of Rangers shoots and scores in the 75th minute to make it 3-0 to Rangers. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
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The former England shot-stopper said via Daily Record: “Listen, 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. Obviously, great games to play in, apart from the result.
“That was six or seven weeks ago now. I feel like a different goalkeeper, a different person, just knowing now more my team-mates and the way we play.
13th September 2026; Ibrox Scottish League Cup Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Sam Johnstone of Celtic plays the ball out. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
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“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.”
25th October 2026; Easter Road; Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic; Sam Johnstone of Celtic clears the ball. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Johnstone is convinced Celtic fans will now see the best of him after finding his feet at Lennoxtown.
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The 33-year-old former Aston Villa and West Brom star said: “I’ve just had a good block of work. 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,” Johnstone said.
New Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone photographed at The Celtic FC Training Centre, Lennoxtown. Celtic press conference, 03 September 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock IMAGO
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He added: “Yes, of course. Like I said, that result was tough, but we move on and that’s football.
“We want to win every game, we need to win every game. When we don’t, we’re the ones that look at ourselves where we can put things better. You have to try and do that as quickly as possible.”
New Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone photographed at The Celtic FC Training Centre, Lennoxtown. Celtic press conference, 03 September 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock IMAGO
It certainly looks like Sam Johnstone is going to get a run of games to show Martin O’Neill that he can become the first pick Celtic keeper. That of course will be a difficult decision for Viljami Sinisalo to accept after fulfilling the understudy role to Kasper Schmeichel for the previous few season.
25th October 2026; Easter Road, Scottish Premiership, Hibernian versus Celtic; Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
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The Finland international was signed by Brendan Rodgers from Aston Villa on the understanding that he would be the replacement to the Great Dane when he hung up his gloves.
No though Martin O’Neill is the Celtic manager and he will pick who he believes is the best goalkeeper. If that is Sam Johnstone then the options for Viljami Sinisalo are to accept that and fight for his place or alternatively look for a money in January or at the end of the season.
25th October 2026; Easter Road. Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic; Celtic manager Martin O’Neill arrives for the match. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
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Alternatively he could wait to see who replaces Martin O’Neill in the summer but any guarantee from the club that he’d be first pick keeper will have gone with the wind.
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