Craig Levein has admitted to being left hugely impressed with Anthony Ralston’s Celtic renaissance as he puts it down to Ange Postecoglou.
Ralston went from Celtic outcast to Parkhead title-winning hero in the space of a year after the arrival of Postecoglou. Anthony competed with Josip Juranovic for the Hoops’ right-back spot this season totalling up as many as 47 appearances for the season as a whole [Transfermarkt].
Yet a run in the Scotland team has continued to deceive him. Instead, Steve Clarke has favoured the likes of Nathan Patterson and Stephen O’Donnell, despite the fact Ralston has played a lot more games than both this season.
And Levein, speaking to BBC Sportsound, believes it’s time to give Tony his shot given the development to his game over the last 12 months:
“I would myself pick Ralston, he’s on the way up and is another one of these players who is improving. All credit to Celtic and Ange Postecoglou for the transformation almost, of that looked to be – and I’m not being disrespectful at all – an ordinary player, who has suddenly turned into an international player.
“A lot of managers have been to Celtic before Ange and hadn’t recognised the talent that Ralston has – it maybe just wasn’t there at that time. It’s been quite difficult. He went on loan to Dundee United for a while and didn’t do an awful lot there. It just shows you what one really good manager can do to a player.”
Craig Levein urges Steve Clarke to call on Anthony Ralston
This isn’t the first time Clarke has called Ralston up of course. He was part of the Scotland squad back in November and bagged a short cameo role against Denmark in the World Cup qualifiers. However, Anthony was then dropped once again for March’s friendly fixtures.
Now, Scotland are looking ahead to vital World Cup playoff matches and Nations League fixtures. When Patterson hasn’t been available, the national team boss has often turned to O’Donnell. However, Ralston has been outperforming the Motherwell man all season.
Logic has seemed to go out of the window when it comes to Ralston and his Scotland opportunities. It’s something that’s irked Celtic supporters throughout the season. But Clarke hasn’t budged.
You wouldn’t expect it to be any different when Scotland face Ukraine on Wednesday night. Ralston’s opportunities will most likely arrive when we get to the Nations League encounters. That seems like the natural point for the manager to start integrating new players.
Until then, Clarke will go with his tried and tested. He always does on the big occasion, so there’s no reason to believe that’s going to change anytime soon.
Hopefully, come a fortnight down the line, we’re reflecting on a substantial level of game-time for Anthony in the Scotland camp. But he’ll probably have to wait until these World Cup playoff games are out the way.
In other news, “Clear punishment”; Reported Celtic target Mohanad Jeahze rages at ref after cup final loss
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