Anthony Ralston, who made his debut under Brendan Rodgers in the Champions League but fell out of favour and struggling to make the squad when Neil Lennon took over, saw a resurgence under Ange Postecoglou.
Despite initially playing well under Postecoglou, he lost his place to Josip Juranovic and then Alistair Johnston.
However, Rodgers has recently spoken out about Ralston’s journey and his potential for the future. [SunSport]
“When you go back to when I was first here, I put him in for a reason. I thought he was a really good talent and a very good player. So much so, I put him in against PSG in 2017. As time went on, maybe some things changed for him a little bit with injuries or whatever else. He didn’t play as much. But under Ange Postecoglou he had a great spell.”
Rodgers also touched on the personal growth Ralston has experienced, particularly after becoming a father.
“Sometimes there are moments in your life that change your perspective. There’s no doubt for me, for the likes of Tony, when you become a father, it makes you reassess everything. It’s not just about you, it’s about doing it for your family. It gives you a purpose in life. I know from speaking to him, that was a real life-changing moment for Tony. He’s always been a really good player. As a young guy I was impressed with his attitude and energy.”
Rodgers praised Ralston’s attitude and energy as a young player and expressed his pleasure at seeing him perform well for the fans, and said he would have an ‘important’ role heading into the future.
“It’s been great for Tony to be able to show that to the fans, because he’s a Celtic man who wants to do well for the club. I’m really pleased he did well and got his new contract. He’s another player who will be really important for us in my time here. He worked hard and became an international player. I love his attitude. He fights every single day and he’ll be a big part of my squad.”
This endorsement from Rodgers, who has a keen eye for talent, bodes well for Ralston’s future at Celtic. His journey, marked by ups and downs, is a testament to his resilience and dedication to the club.
With Alistair Johnston out for the start of the season, Ralston could have a big role to play in the league, and potentially the Champions League.
