Celtic might have lost their domestic ‘invincibles’ status this season, but on course to win another ‘treble’ under Brendan Rodgers despite having injury obstacles throughout the season. Their defence, particularly, had multiple casualties, but the Hoops boss relied on his prodigies and awarded them the first-team football to flourish further.
Ralston, the Scottish U21 international, has appeared thrice in the league as well as their Champions League home outing against Paris St Germain during the period of an injury crisis. Ralston’s progress, however, hit a stumbling block following his own injury concerns since September and the player is now sent on an emergency loan to Championship outfit Dundee United for the remainder of the season.
The 19-year-old right-back joined the Parkhead club at the age of 9 and progressed through their academy ranks to make the ultimate senior debut a couple of years back. Ralston had a previous loan spell with Scottish League Two side Queen’s Park where he earned some regular minutes that helped him to get used to the aggressive and attacking nature of Scottish football.
He scored his maiden goal for the Hoops during August’s 5-0 win over Kilmarnock in a Scottish League Cup tie, a competition that Celtic eventually won beating Motherwell in the final and Brendan Rodgers, the former Liverpool boss, became the first Celtic manager since Jock Stein to win four domestic trophies in a row.
Ralston signed a new long-term deal back in December and committed his future to the club where he is attached to since his childhood days. Injuries, meanwhile, might have dried up his first-team opportunities this term under the Northern Irishman, but the fullback is one gem of a talent who possess everything to become a ‘next-gen’ superstar.
The youngster, however, needs regular game-time to be in Rodgers’ plan for the next season and a move to Dundee United will offer him the same for the remaining fixtures of the 2017-18 campaign. The Tangerines are pretty much in the promotion chase and the addition of Ralston will be a major boost in achieving that. He is young, dynamic, loves to rush forward with overlap runs and cut insides. His presence thus will help Csaba László’s men to match the objectives and the player, too, have a goal to achieve at his new club.
Celtic have Swedish international Mikael Lustig as their first-choice right-back who is on the wrong side of 30 and likely to be succeeded by the teenage prodigy. Rodgers too has not brought in any cover for Lustig as both of his defensive recruits ( Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper) are proper centre-backs. The gaffer thus rates the youngster highly and keeping the doors open for Ralston when he is ready to be a first-team regular.
The Bhoys are not blessed to spend millions in the transfer market due to budget restrictions and the future lies in their youth set-up who will prosper through the ranks and take Celtic towards a greater glory in coming days. Ralston is one such character who is an enormous talent and is likely to make use of the opportunity he has been handed.
