When Steve Clarke announced his Scotland squad to face Cyprus and Spain in the upcoming Euro qualifiers it was a strange sight to see just one Celtic player included. Now however Anthony Ralston has been added to the squad as a replacement for injured former Celt Jack Hendry, and will join club captain Callum McGregor ahead of the start of the Euros qualification campaign this weekend.

Scotland squad update:

IN: Dom Hyam and Anthony Ralston.
OUT: Jack Hendry. pic.twitter.com/jYAoAWX1pf

— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 21, 2023

Ralston has made a favourable impact on the Scottish national side and on only his second Scotland appearance he scored his first international goal during a Nations League group match against Armenia, assisted by another former Celt Stuart Armstrong.

Ralston’s exclusion from Clarke’s first squad announcement was not exactly a surprise given his lack of gametime at Celtic, but he’s been back in the team recently against Hearts and Clarke will have been impressed by his performances in a Scotland shirt and will know he can rely on Ralston both as a sound defender but also a threat with accurate cross ball deliveries in attack.

There will have been some eyebrows raised at Greg Taylor and David Turnbull’s omissions from the Scotland squad, however Steve Clarke was keen to deflect the non-selection of Taylor back on to Celtic, despite the international boss being able to have his international players assessed by the Scotland medical team.

Taylor, it has since come to light, has been playing whilst managing an injury, so whatever way the decision was reached it makes sense not to risk the player still further when a period of rest and recuperation over the two-week international window may well prove a stitch in time.

David Turnbull meanwhile may still have hope that, much like Ralston, an injury may well see a late call up for the former Motherwell midfielder. As despite previously being used as substitute with Celtic, recent injuries to both Reo Hatate and Aaron Mooy who pulled out of the Australia squad with a back injury, has seen Turnbull called back into action and if the international call comes you can be sure Turnbull will be fit and ready to play should he be required.

Raston’s call up is fantastic news for a player who is a key component of the Celtic squad, even if starting games of late has been something of an issue. With Steve Clark choosing a squad that would appear to intimate the use of a back four formation for the upcoming games, there is every chance Tony Ralston may get to add to his six Scotland caps against either Cyrus or Spain.

And if Ralston’s performances at both club level and for his country are any indication you can be absolutely certain Tony Ralston won’t let anyone down, should he get the nod in either of those games. It’s also welcome to see some further Celtic representation in Steve Clarke’s squad as Tony Ralston deservedly joins his club skipper ahead of two huge matches for the national team.

Niall J