Alistair Johnston out until October as Martin O'Neill hints at strengthening Celtic defence

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has revealed Alistair Johnston will be on the sidelines until October, but says the club will look at strengthening defence.

Canada right-back Johnston suffered a hamstring injury in Celtic’s recent win at Kilmarnock and faces another spell on the sidelines after missing much of last season.

“There was definitely something there and the prognosis is sometime in October for him,” said O’Neill, who is still looking to strengthen his defence.

“I think we would need to have a look. If you consider that Kieran (Tierney) is essentially our only left-sided full-back in that sense, we’ll have a little look.

“But I really will not be concentrating on anything at all until after the game.

“Regardless of what the result is or whichever competition we happen to be in then we’ve got some days before the transfer deadline and I hope that we will get some people in.”

Meanwhile, Auston Trusty sat out training before Celtic flew out to Austria for the second leg of their Champions League play-off against LASK.

But O’Neill said: “He’s travelled. He had a bit of a stomach upset, so he didn’t train, but he’s with us.”

Celtic are three up after a clinical first-leg display in which Benjamin Nygren and Camilo Duran twice struck superb goals.

O’Neill will look to get more goals in Austria after LASK proved they could create plenty of chances in Glasgow.

“I felt that the game, particularly in the first half, was very, very open, and we took our chances with some really great goals,” he said.

“I expect to be put under pressure quite a lot during the course of it but we just can’t sit in there and that’s not our intention at all.

“I feel as if we’re capable of scoring a goal in the game, and that’s at least grounds for optimism.

“I think that it’ll be a tough old night for us but we’re capable.

“I think we can play, I think we will get opportunities. They will get opportunities to attack, and they are a formidable team; there’s no question about it.

“But we’re in good form, the start of the season has been good, and we’ll just give absolutely everything we possibly can to try and get through the tie.”

German midfielder Mika Baur made his first start for Celtic in the home leg and aims for a repeat performance in Linz.

“It was incredible,” the 22-year-old said. “The atmosphere and energy in the stadium, I knew it before from sitting in front of the TV, and to feel it in real life was incredible. Such a nice feeling.

“Playing in the Champions League is a dream for every young kid growing up and watching football.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s encounter at the Raiffeisen Arena, the former Paderborn player added: “I would say it’s difficult because we know they are a good team. They played a good match in Glasgow. We know what we have to do: we need the same mentality and energy, to hopefully win again.”