Former Celtic star Steve Guppy has opened up on what it was like to coach Alistair Johnston at the beginning of his career.

The Englishman is involved with MLS side Nashville SC, the team Johnston was drafted to from college in 2020.

Guppy, who played for the Hoops between 2001-2004, worked closely with the right-back before his move to CF Montreal in 2021.

And he is delighted to see how well the Canada international is getting on in Glasgow.

He told the Celtic View podcast: "Alistair has obviously done really well for himself and I am really happy for him.

"He is a very nice lad and good pro which is the most important thing. We drafted him in college as they do over here in the US.

"The college draft thing is really important and because we were a new franchise we were quite high up in the draft picks.

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"So a lot of research went into getting the best players from college and Alistair managed to do that.

"He had some luck on his side that a couple of right-backs more senior than him fell out of favour or were injured and he got put in the firing line."

"He took to it incredibly well as he is a quick learner and very hard working. The thing with Alistair is he is a very solid defender and snuffs out danger and can play in multiple positions.

"Going forward, we wanted to improve his game and right-footed crosses were something he took to very quickly."

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