Anthony of the Rovers

Scoring on your first international start has a Roy of the Rovers feel to it, even more so for Anthony Ralston, who has had a 12 months even Melchester’s finest would find difficult to script.  Fifth-choice right back a season earlier, with only one appearance to his name, Anthony looked to be heading out of Celtic and down the leagues.

For most of us, this was a puzzle.  As a teenager he showed promise, before shipping out on a couple of loan deals.  The manager sees what we don’t, so few of us questioned his position do far down the pecking order.

Ange Postecoglou started with a clean slate and Anthony never looked back.  His contribution to our season was material, and not just because of that goal in Dingwall.  It was another back post run at Hampden last night that opened his Scotland scoring account and another leap under pressure.

Anthony is under contract at Celtic for another three years, that will take him until he is 26.  If he can improve as much next season as this, we will have a player on our hands.