Former Celtic developmental coach, Stevie Frail has praised Anthony Ralston for blocking out the noise and proving a lot of people wrong this season so far.
Frail worked with Anthony at the academy level and revealed the Celtic defender would have been well aware of the supporters feelings at the start of the season.
The former Celtic coach is delighted Anthony is taking his chance – something he wouldn’t have gotten had the Hoops not been going through a transition period.
Mikel Lustig, Jeremie Frimpong, Elhamed and even Jonjoe Kenny have been preferred to Ralston over the last few years. Since his debut under Brendan Rodgers the fans only seen glimpses of the defender and believed he was not worth a squad place.
Ralston is proving many of us wrong but there’s certainly still scope to bring in another right back to push the Celtic academy player.
Over and above Ralston’s form – Frail was also delighted to see four academy players start the game for Celtic against Hearts on Sunday.
“Anthony has been at the club a few years now and Brendan Rodgers, of course, played him against PSG and the likes of Neymar.” The former Hoops coach told SumSport.
“I always think he’s acquitted himself well.
“Yet, at the start of the season I don’t think the fans were too inspired by who the first choice full-backs were going to be.
“But Anthony has done fantastically well. He’s a regular in the team and is even chipping in with goals.
“From what I can see he’s totally bought into what Ange Postecoglou is trying to do with the team.
“I think Anthony has shown a lot of character.
“It wasn’t that long ago he looked totally out of the first-team picture.
“He’s come through the ranks and I was fortunate to work with him briefly.
“I’m delighted for him now because he’s a real good boy, always respectful. Like they all were.
“Now the feelings of a lot of fans will have changed. Anthony has been one of the best players this season.
“He will have been aware of what supporters were thinking. But he’s not allowed it to affect him. He’s responded brilliantly.
“Clearly, the transitional situation at Celtic has allowed for boys like him to get a chance. But you still have to take it and he definitely has.
“And even if Celtic, as seems likely, buy another right-back then I hope it can encourage Anthony to keep on improving.
“I didn’t coach Stephen Welsh at Celtic but I did once get the opportunity, courtesy of Ricky Sbragia, to work with him for Scotland Under-16s and I was really impressed.
“Stephen looks to be growing in stature with every game.
“When you consider also how well Dane and Adam have done this season then it’s great credit to Celtic’s academy — but to the manager and John Kennedy, too, for how they’re backing them.
“Michael Johnston has been so unlucky with injuries, but he’s a great talent and I hope things change for him soon.
“James and Callum have been Celtic mainstays for so long now — proper inspirational figures for the Celtic academy.
“Between them, they’ve played hundreds of games and won so many trophies, while also playing in the Champions League and for Scotland.
“It was an absolute pleasure to play a small part in their development through to the first team.
“Celtic had four home-grown players in the starting line-up for the win over Hearts and that’s first class.
“Hopefully others can make the breakthrough.”
