ANTHONY RALSTON is facing a World Cup sweat before boss Steve Clarke names his Scotland squad for the Finals at the end of next month.
The 25 times-capped right-back played only nine minutes of his country’s 1-0 loss to Japan at Hampden at the weekend and didn’t feature at all in the encounter against Ivory Coast, another one-goal defeat, at Everton’s ground last night.
The 27-year-old Celtic defender, who has also slipped down the pecking order at Parkhead, will be among the 55-man pool named by Clarke before he finalises his 26-player squad for the global tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico in the summer.
The Scots are due to play Haiti in the opening game in Boston on June 14 (2am UK time) before they face Morocco five days later at the same venue (11pm).
The final group match is against Brazil in Miami on June 24 (11pm).
ROARING SUCCESS…Anthony Ralston celebrates Celtic’s 3-1 Premier Sports League Cup semi-final triumph over Ibrox opposition at Hampden in November.
Clarke went with Nathan Patterson to start against Daizen Maeda and Co on Saturday before Ralston was introduced late in the game.
Seven substitutes were utilised on Merseyside, but there was no sign of the Hoops back-four performer with Ross McCrorie in at the start before Patterson made an appearance.
Kieran Tierney played the entire game against the Ivorians after a 20-minute cameo against Japan when he came on for skipper Andy Robertson.
The left-back’s place on the plane for the soccer extravaganza is assured, but clearly that will not be the case for Ralston who figured in every World Cup qualifying squad, but that is no guarantee of place in North America.
Ironically, Ralston could make a rare first-team start for the champions in the crucial Premiership match against Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.
On-loan Julian Araujo is unlikely to return following his quad injury and Colby Donovan limped off in the 2-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice 10 days ago.
Long-term crock Alistair Johnston will not be ready for his first appearance of the year and that leaves Ralston as the only recognised No.2 at the club.
The next two months are going to be massive in the career of the dependable Celt.
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