Sam Johnstone has joined Celtic on a deadline day loan with a clear objective: to force his way back into the England squad. The 33-year-old goalkeeper moved from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Parkhead for the remainder of the season, aiming to become first-choice and catch the eye of national team selectors.
Johnstone's last England cap came three years ago, and he was part of the Euro 2020 squad. He has four clean sheets from his four international appearances. His move north follows a career spent largely in the Premier League with Manchester United, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, and Crystal Palace. The Daily Record Football reported his comments linking his career beginnings with legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson to his current boss, fellow icon Martin O'Neill.
Johnstone arrives at Celtic competing with Viljami Sinisalo for the starting goalkeeper position. He cited the successful late-career revival of Joe Hart at Celtic after being overlooked at Tottenham as a model he hopes to follow. Johnstone trained with elite players like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Darren Fletcher during his formative years at Manchester United. He also worked alongside world-class goalkeepers Edwin van der Sar, Ben Build, and David De Gea at Old Trafford.
"Sir Alex was really good," Johnstone said. "Obviously, I was young at the club. To have someone like that around, growing up at a huge club, is obviously a massive, massive thing." He now hopes Martin O'Neill, described as a close friend of Ferguson, can provide similar inspiration at Celtic.
Johnstone's ambition comes as England enjoys a strong start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Gareth Southgate's side currently sits first in their World Cup qualifying group with 7 points from 3 games. They hold a one-point lead over Croatia and have scored 6 goals while conceding only 2. Their recent form shows four wins from their last five matches, including a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in July.
With Dan Burn currently sidelined, squad depth across all positions remains important. Johnstone believes regular football at a club of Celtic's stature is the pathway back. Fans can track the full England squad and any further changes on the official squad page.
The goalkeeper has no plans to slow down despite being 33. He pointed to the longevity of Craig Gordon, who played until 43, as an example he would love to emulate. "I'm only 33 and I'd love to play until I was 43 like Craig Gordon," Johnstone stated. "You just take a period of time and at this moment, I'm here and, again, excited to be here."
His immediate focus is securing the number one jersey at Celtic and performing consistently. Success in Glasgow could reopen the door to international football as England prepares for important fixtures.
England's current position provides a positive backdrop for any player hoping to break into the setup. The team is on a two-game winning run and leads their group. Their defensive record of just two goals conceded in three games shows the high standard required for goalkeepers in the national team setup. Supporters can follow the evolving standings as the qualification process continues.
For Sam Johnstone, the equation is simple. Perform at Celtic, displace Sinisalo, and demonstrate the form that originally earned him four England caps. His loan from Molineux to Parkhead represents a calculated gamble to revive an international career that has been dormant for three years. England's next squad will be named ahead of the Spain fixture at the end of September.
