Anthony Ralston was at Celtic Park earlier in the week helping fellow Celtic defender Caitlin Hayes promote the Celtic FC Women v Hibs match which looks like attracting a very large crowd at a sunny Paradise tomorrow afternoon. You can still get your FREE tickets if you a season ticket holder and even if you are not entry is very cheap and it’s a great chance to bring all the weans along to perhaps experience their first taste of Paradise.
While the right-back was happy enough to give the Celtic FC Women his support and encouragement it’s probably fair to say that Ralston would have preferred to have been elsewhere, training with the Scotland squad for the two friendlies starting with last night’s 1-1 draw with Poland.
Eyebrows were raised when Steve Clarke announced his squad for these games due to toe omission of the the Celtic player who had forced his way into the squad earlier in the season and made his international debut. And with Patterson and O’Donnell both struggling for form and game-time it was a bit of a mystery as to why Clarke overlooked Ralston this time around.
The same thing happened with Callum McGregor when Gordon Strachan continually refused to bring him into the Scotland set-up at a time when Celtic players were quite understandably being included in the Scotland squad in large numbers. Maybe it was felt that another Celt was just too unpalatable for a section of the Scotland demographic or perhaps it was just Strachan’s nature in not liking being told what to do.
Strachan these days always raves about how good Callum McGregor is yet it was him who denied him the early caps he was due.
Ange Postecoglou has now had his say on Ralston and reckons that if his player keeps doing what he has been doing for Celtic them it’s only a matter of time before he is back in the International fold. Scottish Sun reports:
“The fact some people are surprised Tony wasn’t called up is a reflection on the way he’s been playing. If he keeps playing like he does I’m sure he’ll get looked at and he’ll get the opportunity again. He’s come a long way this season.
“If you think about where he was at the start, if you said in six months people will be disappointed he’s not in the national team, you’d need to check yourself. It’s a credit to Tony. He’s worked awfully hard and taken every opportunity he’s had. He’s helped us as a team this season in getting us where we are.”
After the arrival of Josip Juranovic in late August last summer many pundits were thinking that Ralston’s return to first team duties after a period in the wilderness under Neil Lennon would be coming to an end.
“A lot of people think a lot of things, but it doesn’t really affect me, mate,” Ange said. “Tony has done well and he’ll continue to be a big part of things here. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
“This is his first full year where he’s playing meaningful minutes here.
“It’s a great foundation for him to improve. If he does that I’m sure the opportunities will come around for him again.”
🗣️ “I’ve been in the Premier League for a few years and been to almost every stadium, and I can say I’ve never been as impressed as I have been at Paradise” – @FranAlonsoFA #COYGIG 🍀 #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/ZuhjC5B3qK
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) March 25, 2022
David Potter’s new book, Willie Fernie – Putting on The Style will be out shortly on Celtic Star Books and you can pre-order below…
