Loan bhoy proving to be a big hit

Gus MacPherson is delighted by the impact that Tony Ralston is making at Queens Park.

The defender arrived on loan from Celtic with the season underway and earned a place in the SPFL team of the week following his debut away to Clyde.

On Saturday he picked up the man-of-the-match award when the Spiders beat Elgin City to book a place in the semi-finals of the Petrofac Training Cup.

Every week Ralston is picking up great reviews with MacPherson grateful for the circumstances that led to the young Celt arriving at Hampden.

“We were playing midfield players in the full-back area, and we’d been playing a back three sometimes to compensate for that as well,” the Queens Park boss explained.

“When you’ve got a recognised full-back though and one that has obviously got a big future in the game, then you’ve got to bring them into the team if you can.

“We’re very, very grateful to Celtic for agreeing to let him come out and develop at this level and he’s certainly doing that.

“He’s been a major addition to the group of players that we’ve got and he’s certainly enjoying it which is pleasing as well.

“It’s difficult to say how good he can be because he’s only 16, that’s the frightening thing, but he’s a big strong boy who’s technically very good.

“He listens, he takes in instructions, and he’s probably what you would consider a modern-day full-back.”

MacPherson added: “Celtic have got an abundance of talent within their academy structure and their development team, and it was Chris (McCart) that suggested we looked at Tony.

“We saw enough in his first training session to suggest that he would add something to us. He’s a young boy, but he’s certainly got some very, very good attributes, and the most important one is that he’s professional and he listens.

“We’ve been very, very disrupted with injuries and suspensions to key players, so how well we have done is testament to everyone that has played their part so far in the first eight games of the season.”

Former Celtic youths Willie Muir and Joe Bradley are also part of MacPherson’s squad.

In the semi final draw for the Petrofac Training Cup Queens Park take on Peterhead with the winners facing St Mirren, Livingston or Sevco in the final.

Ralston wearing the number two shirt.