It’s not been glamorous or headline grabbing but two young Celts have ousted two established internationalists from Brendan Rodgers’ squad.
Last night against Kilmarnock Anthony Ralston and Calvin Miller more than filled in for Mikael Lustig and Kieran Tierney in the full-back slots.
During the close season Rodgers decided that the youthful duo could replace Emilio Izaguirre and Cristian Gamboa. Izaguirre has moved to Saudi Arabia with Gamboa likely to move on next month.
What a win tonight!! Buzzing for @anthonyralston8 ????????????
— Calvin Miller (@calvin_miller7) August 8, 2017
Great result tonight ???????? unreal feeling scoring my first goal for my boyhood club????????????
— Anthony Ralston (@anthonyralston8) August 8, 2017
With the Champions League stakes so high for a club like Celtic Rodgers could have taken the easy option and kept the Central American duo involved with Ralston and Miller getting a token first team outing or sent out on loan and largely forgotten.
It’s a gamble on Rodgers part but he has more control of matters at Celtic than any manager enjoys in England.
His instinct tells him that Ralston and Miller are capable full-back’s and can step in for a dozen or more matches this season.
Ralston in particular is ready, if there are any dips in form from Lustig then there is a replacement ready and able to step in.
Both of last night’s full-back’s have the ability and attitude to succeed, circumstances will dictate how far they will go in the game.
