Anthony Ralston urged to follow Greg Taylor’s example in dealing with competition at Celtic
ANTHONY RALSTON need only to look over at his fellow Scottish full-back for motivation when it looks like he might be pushed down the Celtic pecking order.
The Hoops are believed to be close to announcing a deal to bring in Canada right-back Alistair Johnston.
With current no1 choice Josip Juranovic expected to attract transfer interest in January, Ange Postecoglou has been planning ahead and looking for a replacement.
But according to Mark Wilson, Ralston can show he's up for taking the spot Juranovic could vacate himself.
The former Celtic defender has urged Ralston to take a leaf out of Greg Taylor's book when it comes to dealing with competition.
Taylor saw off the threat from Diego Laxalt a couple of years back and was a stand-out under Postecoglou last year.
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He is now keeping summer signing Alexandro Bernabei out of the starting XI most weeks.
Wilson hopes Ralston can do similar to keep himself around Celtic Park and, in turn, use the competition for places to improve himself as a player, just like Taylor.
He told the Sunday Mail: “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.
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“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.”
Wilson talked up not just Ralston's underrated ability and input on the pitch but also his mental strength.
Around 18 months ago, perhaps the only person that thought Ralston had a future at Parkhead was the man himself.
But he made the most of the opportunities given to him under Postecoglou and Wilson says he won't give up the fight any time soon.
He continued: “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.
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“The club can’t rest on its laurels. They can’t presume Juranovic will stay beyond January then, on the last day of the window, he leaves and Ralston is their only right-back. That can’t happen. The club will always look after themselves. But Ange changes his team so much that Ralston will always get opportunities.
“The competition at right-back has certainly worked for Celtic when you think of Juranovic and Ralston so far. They have dovetailed fantastically well under Ange.”
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