ANTHONY RALSTON’S hopes of making the Scotland squad for the World Cup Finals in the summer are in jeopardy.
The Celtic right-back was in Steve Clarke’s matchday squad when the Scots clinched a place in the soccer extravaganza in USA, Canada and Mexico with a 4-2 victory over Kasper Schmeichel’s Denmark at Hampden in November.
However, since the arrival of Bournemouth’s Julian Araujo on loan early in the January transfer window, Ralston has become a bit-part player at the champions.
With Colby Donovan also vying for the No.2 position, Ralston has slipped down the pecking order.
There was no sign of the 24 times-capped international in Martin O’Neill’s playing pool for Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Hibs at Parkhead while the 19-year-old prospect got the nod to join the stand-by squad.
HAPPIER TIMES…Anthony Ralston celebrates after Celtic’s 3-1 Premier Sports League Cup semi-final triumph over Danny Ruhl’s Ibrox outfit at Hampden in November.
Ralston had also been overlooked for four of the previous squads on matchday.
The 27-year-old former Celtic Academy graduate, who made his first-team debut in May 2016, has been struggling for game-time in a turbulent campaign.
He has made only 12 starts in his 22 appearances during the Hoops’ 44 games so far this season.
Scotland are due to open their World Cup bid against Haiti in Boston in the early hours of Sunday June 14 and then take on Morocco at the same venue five days later.
They move to Miami for the intriguing encounter against Brazil on June 24.
With the clock ticking, Ralston knows he needs to rack up club appearances to remain in Steve Clarke’s plans.
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