The days a footballer spends on the sidelines through injury are often permeated with frustration, angst, and a burning desire to return as quickly as possible.
Against Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday, Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston made his first start in over six months, having undergone surgery for a hamstring tear.
It was like the Canadian had never been away, as he set up Daizen Maeda for the visitors' opener in a priceless 2-1 victory.
The fraught days Johnston spent out were made bearable by Celtic's hefty injured contingent. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, and Callum Osmand, to name but a few, have also all been out for large spells of the campaign.
Johnston admits it was difficult watching his fit teammates soldier on through swathes of tumult. But with three league games to go, he says the Celtic players view themselves as title favourites, with the internal pressure to win a fifth consecutive William Hill Premiership crown lofty.
"We know how good our squad is," Johnston explained. "Even with a couple injuries, we still fancy ourselves to be the favourites to go and win the league.
"So there's been that added pressure from within our own group. Like, no, we can find a way. We need to go and find a way to win this league.
"But there's been tonnes, just tonnes of things that have happened. Tonnes of change behind the scenes. Tonnes of obstacles. But the lads have passed them. Not always with flying colours, but they've passed them.
"We've continued to chip away and stay in this league. And now we have a chance here with a month left to go up there and ideally do a double. So that's kind of still our mindset.
"There's definitely an excitement in the group because you know that it's all still there to play for. And that's all you can really ask for when you get to this time of the season."
Although Julian Araujo, Anthony Ralston, and Colby Donovan proved ample deputies during Johnston's long-term absence, the Canadian is a cut above.
Johnston's underlapping runs caused havoc, even when Hibs had 11 men on the mark. His clever assist for Maeda epitomised his attacking threat.
Johnston's return to full fitness (Sunday marked his first league start since August 10) gave Celtic a noticeable jolt. Does the player himself feel that way?
"I don't think so," he said. "The guys, the time I've been out, I've seen how they've fought, how they've worked day in, day out up at the training ground. So it's no surprise to me that we're still finding ways to grind out results.
"I'm just trying to play my part at the end of the day. I know I'm a fullback. I'm not going to be going up there. I'm not the number nine coming in, hopefully going to score six goals in the last couple of games! I'm just going to try and chip in whatever way I can.
"And that's been the great part about this squad is we've always had such depth here. I think whoever's played right back this whole season... They've all done a great job and added their own kind of elements to the game. And for me watching that, I've tried to pick up little things as well.
"And I also know my own game, how I can help the team. So it's been good. I think I'm just adding another profile, kind of a different way, a different style.
"And again, that was my first kind of match under Martin [O'Neill]. So just trying to figure out how he wants a fullback to play versus how I play and finding that happy medium where it works for his kind of style, but also fits into my player kind of profile and how I like to play as well."
Johnston is one of the myriad Celtic players – who would be first-team regulars – who have missed the majority of the season.
He did not feature during previous manager Wilfried Nancy's 33-day tenure, and Sunday marked his first start under O'Neill.
Whether defeating Rangers on penalties at Ibrox, or losing the League Cup final to St Mirren, Johnston has missed the peaks and troughs of a Celtic season which has felt like riding a rollercoaster.
Powerlessly watching from the stands has been arduous for a player who, until his recent hamstring issues, had never missed more than eight matches through injury in his career.
"It's difficult," Johnston admitted. "There's no two ways about that. We've had quite a large injured contingent, which has helped in terms of mentally just getting through it.
"There are other guys that are in there, first ones in, last ones out.
"It's difficult, especially when things aren't going well. It's one thing if you're flying, you're 15 points clear. The mood's always great, but it hasn't always been that way this year.
"There's been some difficult times, been a lot of change behind the scenes. So you're just trying to help out in any way possible. You're as much a sports psychologist as you are a footballer!
"Sometimes when you're in there as an injured player, just trying to bounce ideas off of guys, give guys what you think you're seeing from a different angle. When you're at the matches, watching from a bird's eye view versus what they're feeling on the pitch. But there is only so much you can do.
"So it definitely makes a difference once you're back and can help chip in any way possible. That's when you really feel like you're doing the most."
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The fractional nature of this current iteration of Celtic has produced several heroes. But as time marches on, Kelechi Iheanacho is becoming a familiar toast of the supporters.
The Nigerian striker has won nine Premiership points with three separate match-winning strikes this term, the latest coming in Leith on Sunday.
Iheanacho controlled Kieran Tierney's deflected corner delivery with ease and slammed past Hibs goalkeeper Jordan Smith to spark equal scenes of euphoria and relief in the away end.
"Kelechi's heart rate, I don't think ever gets above 60 beats per minute," Johnston said. "How long he let that ball come down to his foot – it felt like time stopped. But that's Kels.
"And again, that's what that quality can bring. And that's what we have in this squad. We've got players that have played at really high levels and have that kind of quality.
"So it's amazing to be able to bring a player like that off the bench. Just cool, calm, composed.
"He's a bit of an iceman. That was obviously a massive goal for us. There's no beating around the bush with that."
Iheanacho's strike has set Celtic up for a decisive final week of the league season. In the space of seven days, O'Neill's side face Rangers, Motherwell, and Hearts.
A week on Saturday, someone, somewhere will lift the Premiership title. This Sunday's Glasgow Derby could have a considerable say in the destination of the championship.
"I feel like every derby's been massive since I've been here," Johnston added. "Even if it hasn't been as important potentially in the league table. Look, we're just taking it day by day, match by match.
"And I know that sounds cliche and I come up here and I say that every time I'm up here, but it really is what it is for us.
"We're looking at it that: we've just got to go win whatever matches ahead of us. At this point, three league matches left and a cup final [against Dunfermline Athletic on May 23].
"If we can go out there, win four matches, we'll see what happens. That's kind of where our mindset is. But we're not being naive in terms of we know how big that match [vs Rangers] is.
"We know how much it's going to mean for our supporters. We also know what it means in the league table. But that final match of the season [vs Hearts] is also going to be a massive one."
For Celtic, the objective is plain: win three games and win the league. Easier said than done, but with Johnston back fit and firing, Iheanacho producing mammoth moments, and internal belief growing, a 56th title might just be on its way.
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