Alan Stubbs offers ‘guarantee’ on Everton’s Alistair Johnston stance after Celtic talks

Alan Stubbs has ‘guaranteed’ that Everton won’t come back in for Alistair Johnston in January.

That’s after Everton’s pursuit of Johnston was abruptly halted by an injury to the Canada defender, from which he is still recovering. He was said to have been keen on the move.

If you thought Celtic’s window was bad, the Toffees’ ended up being a disaster, with David Moyes left short in multiple positions — the club were put up for sale by the Friedkin Group this week.

However, after the performances of Merlin Rohl and Deadline Day signings Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Stubbs — a hero at both clubs — has set the record straight.

Via Online Casino UK, Stubbs said: “Do I think Everton will relaunch a bid for Johnston in January? No, no I don’t. I think they’ve brought in Maitland-Niles, and even though it was last minute and it might not have been first choice, I think Everton have got the player there.

“I can probably virtually guarantee that it won’t be in January. Whether that changes in the summer, that might be a different conversation.

“But I just don’t see Everton going for a right-back in January. Unless something happens with Ainsley Maitland-Niles.”

Colby Donovan’s performance in the Champions League play-off against LASK earned rave reviews, earning the teenager a run of games with the first team. He has largely done well in Johnston’s absence.

Jordan Lotomba was brought in on Deadline Day as last-minute cover for the Canadian, whilst Anthony Ralston remains in the fold but currently well out of the picture.

Johnston also missed most of last season with a hamstring injury, coincidentally sustained in the Champions League play-off round against Kairat Almaty.

Despite only ruling him out for two months initially, the injury reoccurred immediately when he returned to action against Sturm Graz in the Europa League, sidelining him for a further five games.

He had only just rediscovered full match fitness when he headed for a home World Cup with Canada, playing every minute of all five of their matches as they made the round of sixteen