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Rodgers unexpectedly opens the door to forgotten defender

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For the last 18 months Anthony Ralston’s career has been something of a mystery.

At the start of the 2017/18 season he was second only to Mikael Lustig, playing confidently and sampled the toughest test imaginable- Neymar on Champions League duty.

A knee injury soon afterwards halted his progress but a new contract at Christmas time confirmed that he was in the plans of Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic fans dreamed of a right-sided Kieran Tierney produced by the club Academy.

Ralston’s knee injury took longer to recover from than expected, Jack Hendry was used as back-up to Lustig with Ralston sent on loan to Dundee United to get game time.

Fifteen matches with the Tannadice club failed to produce promotion but confirmed that the 19-year-old had recovered from injury.

Back at Celtic for the new season his progress had halted. Cristian Gamboa was now deputy to Lustig with right-back an obvious area of concern, a transfer priority for January.

Young American Manny Perez arrived on trial, impressed with a deal set up to join the hoops at the turn of the year.

After Kris Ajer was played on the right of a back three away to Hibs Rodgers made one change to the team that played Motherwell last night. Ralston was restored, his first Celtic appearance in over a year.

Despite his lack of game time, just a few Reserve League matches, he looked fine, defended whole heartedly and chased forward down the right supporting James Forrest. He even opened the scoring.

After the match Rodgers told the Celtic website: “I thought Anthony Ralston was outstanding. He defended very well, and he closed the space between him and the centre-back well.

He was aggressive, he kicked their players, he kicked our players, he even booted James Forrest at one point, and I thought he would’ve tackled anything when he got his chance.

He’s got great endurance too, to keep going forward. He gets in, he gets a goal, and it was a fantastic finish. I’m absolutely delighted for him.”

Last night’s opportunity wasn’t exactly planned but football is about exploiting opportunity, Tierney did that when Tyler Blackett proved to be a disaster despite his Manchester United pedigree.

It’s one match at a time for Ralston, in three games time his Celtic prospects could be utterly transformed.

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