Anthony Ralston completed the full 90 minutes as Celtic beat St Johnstone 3-0 at Lennoxtown to reach the semi-finals of the SFA Youth Cup.
The result was never in doubt but of more immediate interest to Brendan Rodgers will be the return of the defender who hasn’t played in the first team since September.
Ralston held nothing back as he defended with aggression and pushed forward in tandem with birthday bhoy Broque Watson down the right flank.
Celtic had a couple of decent early chances but Calvin Miller, Mark Hill and Robbie Deas all had early efforts blocked.
St Johnstone looked to be settling into the match but went behind in the 32nd minute. Jack Aitchison collected a pass from Ewan Henderson in the corner of the penalty box, held off a couple of challenges then eased a low shot across the Saints keeper to make the breakthrough.
Miller hit the post a few minutes later with the 1-0 scoreline hardly reflecting the balance of play at the interval.
St Johnstone had beaten Sevco in the last round but have struggled in the Development League with 15 points from 15 matches.
Twelve minutes into the second half Celtic went two up when a brilliant inswinging cross from Henderson found the corner of the net with Deas making a claim that his fringe had brushed against the ball.
There was no debate about who scored the third goal, when a corner was cleared to the edge of the box Kerr McInroy drilled in a fierce half volley that no one wanted to get in the way off
CELTIC Doonhan, Ralston, Duffy, Deas, Miller; McInroy (Bell 70), Hill; Watson (Caffrey 62), Hendry, Henderson; Aitchison (Diver 62)