Former Celtic defender Mark Wilson has claimed that Anthony Ralston still has what it takes to compete for the right-back position at the club despite strong reports that the club are set to sign further competition in Alistair Johnston.
Ralston has played his fair share of domestic matches this season but has played second-fiddle to Josip Juranovic in the Champions League and in most of the bigger games so far.
Despite this, and the reportedly imminent signing of Canada full-back Johnston, Wilson has backed the Scotland international to fight for his place in Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Wilson told Mailsport: “Even if Johnston comes in, I would encourage Ralston just to stick in, do what he’s doing and he’ll get his reward. I think Ralston is good enough to battle with Juranovic, Johnston, or both. Ralston is a fit lad, he’s very rarely injured and when he plays he’s got as many goals and assists as Juranovic.
“If you look at Johnston as well over the last couple of years, Ralston surpasses him in that regard as well. He’s mentally strong anyway, he’s proved that to still be at Celtic. When you see where he’s come from – a few years ago he was out the door and written off by everyone; he was at the lowest point of his career.
“He won’t hit lower than that. He’s proved he can compete for a place at Celtic with guys like Juranovic who is playing on the biggest stage at the World Cup. Celtic play so many games that Ralston will still get a decent return in terms of his appearances come the end of the season.
Wilson has seen another Scottish full-back at Celtic who was written off when internationals were signed in his position fight for his place and become the unquestionable first-choice in Greg Taylor, and the former defender has backed Ralston to repeat the trick.
“It’s very rare that you’ll see two Scottish full-backs playing together or vying for one spot. There always seems to be others who come in. Everyone thought Taylor would be out of the team when Bernabei came in, but he’s taken his game up a level this season. Guys like Diego Laxalt came in at left-back to challenge him.
“He had a fancy name and a big reputation because he played at AC Milan. But Taylor was knocking his pan in behind the scenes and has eventually come to the fore. Ralston has done the same. Both Scottish full-backs have done remarkably well to play in this team, in a style under Ange that no young Scottish full-backs have played before.
“They’ve adapted to it brilliantly. Ralston is in a good place and if Johnston arrives, it should push him on and make him a better player.”
Despite his Celtic career appearing to be all but over in the summer of 2021, Ralston has had a remarkable renaissance under Postecoglou, with his cult hero status amongst the support reaching a fever pitch when he scored a critical 97th minute winner in Dingwall in December last year.
Though Juranovic has been the first-choice selection, his adaptability in other positions, particularly last season, allowed Ralston to fight his way back into contention.
Celtic fans will be able to see their proposed new right-back face the current one, when Johnston’s Canada take on Juranovic’s Croatia in Group F of the World Cup at 4pm today (UK time).
In other news: The Scottish FA’s silence isn’t surprising but Celtic and the rest still deserve better
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