James McFadden highlighted the performance of Anthony Ralston against Hearts as the right-back continues his Celtic renaissance.
Many fans were against the reintroduction of Ralston into first-team matters this season. This came due to the fact it had been proven in the past that he wasn’t good enough to be first choice.
However, in recent weeks, the former Lennoxtown academy starlet has been flourishing in Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI. Three impressive appearances in-a-row against Dundee, Jablonec, and Hearts have some re-evaluating Ralston’s use at Celtic.
And McFadden is the latest to join in with the praise for the solid work he’s been putting in over the last couple of months.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound yesterday, McFadden said: “
“At the start [of the season], Ralston was in because there was no other option really in the right-back area. But he’s grown so much in the last month in that position that you would have confidence [playing him vs Alkmaar].
“I think at Celtic it’s always the case that you want better players, you want to improve the squad, but Anthony Ralston has shown that he’s reliable. He can play right-back for Celtic.
“I don’t think that could’ve been said so easily a month ago. But that shows you the confidence he’s got. The fact he’s actually, for the first time in his career anywhere, that he’s actually played a run of games and he can actually show what he can do. He doesn’t have to go and prove it all in one 45-minute or one game. He’s had a chance to build. He’s made mistakes, but he’s learning and he’s getting better every single time.”
Celtic squad has a place for Anthony Ralston, but an improvement is needed
It’s important to put this into some perspective here and not to get too carried away over Ralston’s form.
What he’s proven is that there is indeed a place for his talent in the Celtic squad. He isn’t just a placeholder anymore, and the early signs are that his one-year contract extension may not be the final deal he signs at Parkhead.
Ralston is playing for his long-term future at the club at this stage. For his career, you could say. And he’s succeeding in showing that he’s worth keeping around for the foreseeable future. Of course, it’s imperative that level of form doesn’t drop anytime soon.
Nor can we dismiss the fact that Celtic still need better in the right-back position. Ralston has been a smooth operator in recent games, but Celtic need more from both full-back positions. Hard work and grafting is all well and good, but you can still tell we lack genuine quality at right-back and left-back.
However, Ralston has proven that he could very well put in a performance against Alkmaar in the Europa League playoffs. That he’s ready to be given the opportunity to make the step-up against the Dutch side.
It looks as though he’s about to get that chance too. It goes without saying, but we really need him to take it.
In other news, Peterborough United look set to hold on to Celtic-linked Siriki Dembele this summer
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