Anthony Ralston has admitted that he was a “little bit” surprised to have lost his place in the Scotland squad, having made his international debut in the national team’s last match. The Celtic right back was omitted from Steve Clarke’s selections for the friendlies against Poland and either Wales or Austria, despite having come on as a substitute in the win over Denmark in November to earn his first cap.
Ralston has been a regular for his club this season and has made 40 appearances for the cinch Premiership table-toppers. He received his reward when he got a late call-up to the Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifier against Denmark but there was no sign of his name when Clarke made his announcement for this round of fixtures. In the squad that Clarke picked, Nathan Patterson, Stephen O’Donnell and Aaron Hickey can all play right back but only Hickey has been playing regularly for his club, Bologna. O’Donnell has played barely half as many games for Motherwell as Ralston has for Celtic while Patterson has had only 45 minutes of first-team football after his move to Everton.
“I was a little bit,” Ralston said when asked if he was surprised he had been left out. “I feel that I have done well through the course of the season. I would have liked to have been involved in the squad but it is not to be at the minute. My main aim is to do my bit for Celtic and hopefully in time I will get that international recognition.
“These things are out of my control. The only things in my control are my performances and my hard work.”
Ralston’s long-term future at Celtic appeared to be in jeopardy last summer following unremarkable loan spells at Dundee United and St Johnstone. Instead, he grabbed a first-team opportunity with both hands when given game time by Ange Postecoglou and is now an integral member of the squad.
“It is the most I have ever played and I have loved every minute of it,” Ralston said. “It has been great to be a part of the team but it is important to keep kicking on. Hopefully, I can add a few more games to that between now and the end of the season.
“I have been involved with the first team for a few years and seen all the success they’ve had. I have played some part in that but this one does feel different.
“Naturally that is due to the number of games I’ve played compared to previous seasons. Hopefully, more success can come and I can also be a part of that. The important thing is we get that success regardless of who is playing.”
While Postecoglou had a number of injury concerns to contend with early in the campaign, Ralston is impressed with the state of the Celtic squad going into the final furlongs of the campaign. Another recent Scotland squad member, David Turnbull, has just returned from a lengthy layoff while Kyogo Furuhashi is close to a comeback.
“I think that whatever challenges we have had during the season we’ve overcome them,” Ralston said. “I feel the squad is in a really good place, providing everyone comes back healthy from the international break.
“With the volume of games from now until the end of the season, it is important everybody is ready to go. The aim is for everyone to come back healthy and to remain in the good place we are in. We have managed to rack up a few wins and that comes down to mentality. There is a lot at stake and it is exciting for us all. We are looking back to getting on with it because we are in a good place.”
● Anthony Ralston was promoting the Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 match between Celtic against Hibernian at Celtic Park on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, which is included on the season book. Season-book holders can claim their free ticket from the Celtic Park ticket office.
