Anthony Ralston is likely to play back-up to Stephen O’Donnell for the Scotland vs Denmark fixture tomorrow night, according to the Daily Record.
Ralston has finally been called up to the senior squad after being snubbed in the 2 previous international breaks so far this season. The Celtic right-back has been in sensational form and has undoubtedly been the in-form right-back in the country.
Yet Steve Clarke has continued to select the likes of Nathan Patterson and Stephen O’Donnell ahead of him. The former has been understandable given his impact in the national team this season, but Ralston has been particularly outshining O’Donnell throughout the season.
However, even though he’s been given his much-anticipated Scotland call-up, the Record reports that he’ll likely be on the bench against Denmark. In his place will be Motherwell right-back O’Donnell, who has struggled for Scotland in the past.
It’s difficult to see why Ralston wouldn’t just be thrown into the starting line-up. With Patterson suspended due to the booking picked up in Moldova on Friday night, Ralston is the in-form candidate to replace him.
But in typical Clarke fashion, it looks like he’ll have to sit out as the Motherwell defender continues to be given opportunity after opportunity.
Celtic man Anthony Ralston should be starting for Scotland against Denmark
It’s difficult to see why Clarke would feel that O’Donnell should be in the team ahead of Ralston. Especially when you look at how both players have been performing this season.
With all due respect to the Fir Park stalwart, he hasn’t been anywhere near the levels of Celtic’s renaissance man this year. In fact, he isn’t long after producing a nightmare performance against Rangers in which he was sent off.
International squads simply have to be picked based on in-form players. It totally sends the wrong message to consistently snub those who are operating at the peak of their game. Especially if it’s for a player who isn’t performing to the former’s capabilities.
That’s the situation we have here between Ralston and O’Donnell. Sure, Clarke took the latter to the Euros. You can understand why there would be a trust between them.
But that shouldn’t be used to hamper another talented player’s international ambitions. You have to wonder just how Ralston is supposed to break into the first-team squad. He’s barely being given an opportunity to show how he can impact the Scotland team.
Hopefully he gets some minutes tomorrow night regardless. There’s absolutely no reason for Clarke to be keeping Ralston on the sidelines much longer. Hopefully, he sees sense and starts the Celtic man regardless of the above report.
In other news, Referee who failed to punish recent Celtic Park flashpoint given Bhoys semi-final
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