Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston has absolutely smashed the target set out for him by Scotland boss Steve Clarke.
After a brilliant start to the season, there was an expectancy that Ralston would make Clarke’s squad for the September World Cup qualifiers. However, instead, he was incredibly snubbed for Rangers’ Nathan Patterson, who wasn’t getting regular game-time at Ibrox.
Granted, when Patterson dropped out due to injury, it was reported by the Daily Record that Ralston was in line for a call. But the player couldn’t accept due to medical grounds as Hibernian’s Paul McGinn was chosen instead.
Clarke stated the reason Ralston wasn’t called into the squad in the first place was due to the fact he wanted to see him nail down a regular spot in the Celtic side. Speaking via a video published by PLZ Soccer at the time, Clarke said the following:
“Tony Ralston’s come into the Celtic team and done great. He’s one of the ones who’s really benefited from the new style of play and the way they’re playing.
“But I think for Tony Ralston it’s about continuing that and seeing if he can stay in the team for a prolonged period of time.”
Anthony Ralston continues to keep his Celtic spot despite Josip Juranovic arrival
Ralston’s injury picked up during the international break kept him out of a game against Ross County. However, other than the Livingston defeat, he’s been given 90 minutes in all other matches since the last break.
He featured in the Europa League against Real Betis, whilst he was also given 90 against Dundee United on Sunday and last Thursday’s League Cup match against Raith Rovers.
Despite the arrival of Josip Juranovic, Ralston hasn’t particularly been ousted. Instead, Ange Postecoglou had played the Croatian at left-back on the vast majority of occasions. Ralston remains the first-choice right-back at Celtic, and has managed to achieve the goal Clarke set out for him.
Whether that leads to an international call-up remains to be seen. But you have to imagine that’s the next step for Ralston now. You can’t say he isn’t capable of performing against Israel and the Faroe Islands. That would just be insulting your intelligence.
Sure, Ralston’s form has seen a slight dip. He hasn’t been as effective in the last couple of matches as Celtic’s form in general slumps. But he’s still keeping his spot and he’s nowhere near the worst in the Hoops team at the moment.
Fingers crossed he gets a deserved call-up this afternoon. Nobody would deserve it more.
In other news, Celtic supporters highlight sudden Shane Duffy improvement after Brighton return
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