CANADA assistant Ewan Sharp has lauded Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston for his performances on the park in the Copa America in the United States and his influence off it.
The Canucks, who had never taken part in the South American Championship before, were installed as 60-1 outsiders by bookmakers before the tournament got underway last month.
However, Johnston and his countrymen beat Peru 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Chile in the group stages to qualify for the knockout rounds and then defeated Venezuela on penalties in their quarter-final last week.
Jesse Marsch’s side were beaten 2-0 by world champions Argentina in the semi-final on Tuesday night – but they can finish in third place if they defeat Uruguay in the play-off this evening.
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Stirling-born Sharp, who has previously worked as a coach at New York Red Bulls, Lokomotiv Moscow, Manchester United and Leeds United, feels Johnston has been integral to their success.
“I didn’t know Alistair personally before,” said the Scot. “I have just got to know him over the time we have spent here. He is great. He is a fantastic person.
“He is always talking, you can see that the guys really like him and that he is a big character in the dressing room and the meal room. He has been brilliant.
Marsch only appointed Sharp, who he had previously worked alongside at New York Red Bulls and Leeds United, back in May and the 31-year-old has been fully focused on the Copa America since.
But the former Stirling Albion and East Stirling youth has admitted that he is looking forward to returning to Scotland to watch Johnston – and other Canadian footballers who are based in his homeland - play for Celtic in the season ahead.
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“It has been a busy couple of months trying to get ready for the tournament and then being involved in the tournament,” he said. “It has all happened so fast. I will find out how it all shapes up in the next few months.
“It has not felt different to a club because we started two weeks before the tournament. It was straight into camp and then the tournament. I am sure it will feel a bit different in the coming months.
“But I have already said to Alistair that I will definitely come to Glasgow to see him play. We have also got a few others players who have been playing in Scotland, Theo Bair and Harry Paton at Motherwell and Junior Hoilett at Aberdeen. There are a few other guys we have looked at who are playing in Scotland. It will be good to get back home and see them in action.”
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