Anthony Ralston lack of Celtic minutes does no harm in Scotland show, Steve Clarke reacts

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Anthony Ralston has been a bit-part player for Celtic this season.

The right-back has managed 18 appearances for the club with just seven starts from those fixtures. Alistair Johnston’s form before the Rangers defeat has kept Ralston out of the side for the most part.

The 26-year-old is a steady hand, though, and rarely drops a nightmare for Celtic when called upon. And that consistency and reliability has also transferred to the Scotland national squad with so many injuries in his position.

Aaron Hickey has been missing for months while Nathan Patterson has also been out of action for club and country. So that has allowed Ralston to find his feet in the dark blue and pick up 18 caps in the process.

• READ MORE: All 12 Celtic stars on March international duty and how to watch their games live

Anthony Ralston was applauded by Scotland boss Clarke

Last night the defender put in a helluva shift in a 1-0 win over Greece away from home in a Nations League playoff before he was eventually brought off for Max Johnston’s debut.

Head coach Steve Clarke was proud of Ralston and even mentioned his lack of game time at Celtic Park as a reason why he was so pleased with his player.

“Two of the defenders don’t play regularly at their club which is a big credit to them and how they prepare themselves, Tony Ralston and Grant Hanley. They did a great job,” Clarke said on BBC Sportsound.

“In front of them we were solid in midfield and worked hard. But we just dropped a little bit too deep. You defend as a team. We were under a lot of pressure in the second-half; we defended a lot of situations; corners, free-kicks, very well. And when you strip back the figures there’s only one shot on target.

“It’s not like Craig (Gordon) was making save after save. But we did feel under pressure in the second-half.

“We had to show a different side to our game, different side to our character, brave defending and good defending. But maybe we should’ve been a little bit braver on the ball and tried to dictate the game a little bit more if I’m being picky.”

Ralston’s Celtic career in numbers

It was an excellent outing for the Scots and Ralston in particular who kept Kostas Tsimikas of Liverpool and Club Brugge star Christos Tzolis quiet.

Ralston has developed as a Celtic player over the past number of years under Brendan Rodgers and his outings in big games including the Glasgow derby and in the Champions League have prepared him for national duty.

He has played, in total now, 121 times for the Hoops first-team and is still tied down on a deal until 2027 so there’s surely more to come.

And if Johnston leaves Celtic any time soon, amid Inter Milan interest and Premier League sides circling, Ralston would be a solid deputy before Rodgers looks at the summer window.