Martin O’Neill has explained his surprise decision to hand Sam Johnstone a start for Celtic against Celta Vigo.

The goalkeeper hasn’t been seen since a difficult performance in Celtic’s 3-0 Glasgow Derby defeat at Ibrox, after which Viljami Sinisalo was reinstated into the starting XI.

Signed on loan from Wolves in the dying embers of the transfer window, ex-England international Johnstone arrived to huge enthusiasm from O’Neill.

Tonight will see him make his European debut at the age of 33, after a career spent playing in the Championship and Premier League down south.

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Martin O’Neill’s on Sam Johnstone: ‘Let him sample Celtic Park’

Johnstone told CelticPlayer when asked about the importance of minutes for Johnstone: “Of course. This is the whole point. He’s a very fine goalkeeper. We’ve got the two goalkeepers there, and it’s really to keep them involved. I think that’s important. And I think, also, to try and sample Celtic Park on a European evening.”

He continued on the Celta clash: “Yeah, difficult task. No doubt at all about it, John. But we’ve got confidence about it, let’s go for it.

“There’ll be moments in the match when we don’t have the ball, we’ll have to just sit in and play accordingly. There’ll be times when we can close players down close to their goal.

“Let’s go for it. That’s the most important thing. Just get on the front foot and attack tonight. Because the three points are up for grabs. Celta Vigo will be thinking the exact same thing — they have to win themselves.

“So it’s really up to us now, because the two games have gone. We’ve really learned a lot from those, hopefully we’ve learned a lot from those matches. And now, it’s a matter here tonight, on our own patch, to try and win.”

Finally, on the team’s momentum, he said: “I think so. I think the importance now for us, building on the second half against Benfica, really good performance against Hearts, and we need some points. We have to try and win the game.

“The side are playing well at this minute. Obviously scored a lot of goals on Sunday, just try and carry that on if it’s at all possible.”