Former Celt Vidar Riseth has insisted that the Hoops will see the best of Stefan Johansen again – since the Norwegian has been playing through the pain barrier all season.

It has not quite been from hero to zero for Johansen this season but his stock has fallen dramatically in the course of a ten-month period. Johansen dazzled to such an extent last term that the Norwegian not only ended the season as the SPFA Player of the Year but was also linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League, such had been the consistency of his form.

It has been a radically different scenario for the midfielder this term. Earlier this month he was rested by Ronny Deila as Johansen was on the receiving end of such heavy flak that it was thought the best course of action was to give him a breather out of the team.

However, Riseth has insisted that an enduring hip issue has meant that Johansen has been in agony every time he has taken to the filed this season.

“I have spoken to Stefan a few times and no-one is more disappointed than him at how he has played this season. It is not like he has not been able to feel that he is struggling for form,” explained Riseth. “But he has been playing with a problem in his hips.

“Every time he tries to turn he is in pain and it is the same when he tries to play a long pass. He has been taking painkillers for the problem and trying to play through it but it has obviously held him back because it is impossible to relax when you are in pain.

“Everyone can see that he has been struggling with his form but this is why, or certainly I think it is a big part of the reason. I think he has wanted to play on through it but maybe the best thing to do would have been to properly rested it.

“I didn’t see him play against Estonia earlier this week as I am away on holiday, but in the last qualifier we had against Hungary I thought that he was excellent.

“That is why Celtic should not give up on him. He can get back to the kind of form he showed last season, but he needs a bit of support. This is the time when he needs to have the support of the fans and if he can get that then it will go a long way to getting back to showing what he can do on the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Riseth has insisted that Ronny Deila will be ready for next month’s Hampden Cup date with Rangers.

The teams meet in the semi-final of the William Hill Scottish Cup and Riseth expects Celtic to prevail as they aim for a league and cup double.

“I spoke to Ronny after he beat Rangers at Hampden last year and he absolutely loved it,” he smiled. “I had spoken to him before the game but after it he admitted that there was not anything that could have prepared him for it.

“I told him just to wait until he experiences a game against Rangers at Celtic Park – it is even better. The atmosphere at Hampden is different I think to what it is like inside Celtic Park but it is still an extraordinary experience.

“I think Ronny knows now what it is all about and he will be ready going into that game. It is so important that they are in a good position in the league and playing well because if they are at 100% then I think they will win it.

“I am actually coming over to the game with some Norwegian friends who have always wanted to see what a Celtic v Rangers game is like. I am bringing them to Glasgow to let them see it for themselves and hopefully we will be celebrating at the end of it.

“I think once you have been a Celtic player you do not ever forget that feeling for the club. So I will be cheering as loudly as anyone.

“I felt that if the club were not going to spend a lot of money in the transfer market last summer then it would be hard for them in Europe. But winning the league and the Scottish Cup would be a decent season.

“I have some good memories of Hampden myself. Some not so good too, although scoring when we beat Aberdeen to win the League Cup in what had been a very tough season was great. I will be reminding a few of my friends about that one!”