Celtic loanee Julian Araujo has headed back to Mexico in a last push to get himself fit for this summer’s World Cup.
The right back had already returned to his parent club, AFC Bournemouth, after picking up a thigh injury, with manager Martin O’Neill confirming his season with Celtic was effectively over.
At that point, it looked like the 24 year old’s chances of making the tournament had taken a serious hit.
But Araujo is not giving it up just yet.
He has linked up with the medical team at the Mexican FA’s High Performance Centre, where he will go through an intensive rehab programme in a bid to prove his fitness to national team boss Javier Aguirre. It is a tight window, and the work over the next few days could be decisive with the squad announcement approaching.
Araujo made 13 appearances during his loan spell in Glasgow, and while his time at the club was cut short, he left with a clear appreciation for the experience.
Taking to Instagram following his departure, Araujo said: “I’m truly grateful to Celtic Football Club for welcoming me from day one and making Glasgow feel like home. Wearing this badge and experiencing the passion, history, and energy of this club is something I’ll carry with me forever.”
Back at Celtic, there is at least some positive news on the injury front. O’Neill confirmed that Alistair Johnston is closing in on a return and could be involved against Falkirk.
Speaking at his pre match media conference, he said: “Well, Alistair Johnston is coming back. I’m hoping that he will be in the squad tomorrow. So that’s good news for us. Yeah, we’ve got… We’re getting stronger in that sense. Of course, we’ve missed the big players throughout the course of the year.”
“But nothing can be done about that. But we’re looking forward to it. Let’s give it a go.”
With the season reaching its final stretch, even small boosts like that can make a difference.
