Brendan Rodgers has praised Anthony Ralston’s importance to Celtic, highlighting the right-back’s strong mentality and value to the club even though he isn’t a regular starter.
With Alistair Johnston expected to return to the squad for tomorrow night’s trip to Pittodrie, Rodgers has still taken time to applaud Ralston’s contributions both on and off the pitch.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “The boys who have come through at Celtic understand what this club is about.
“A lot of them have been here since young guys and they’ve come through, they’re brought up in the values of Celtic and guys like Tony, like you say, are really pivotal to the culture of this club.
“He doesn’t play every single game but I think he’s probably one of our most important players here because of, like you say, his history at the club.”
Ralston came through Celtic’s youth academy and has mostly been a back-up player in recent years. But when he gets a chance to play, he always gives his best.
He showed that with an assist against Hibs at the weekend and a solid performance at Ibrox against Rangers — a tough task for someone who hasn’t started many games this season.
Even though Johnston is fit again, Rodgers made it clear that Ralston is still very important to the team. He’s trusted because he knows the club well, works hard, and is always ready to play when needed.
