Mikey Johnston was among the first to congratulate Tony Ralston as he opened the scoring in Scotland’s Nations League tie against Armenia.
With 28 minutes played the Celtic defender drifted in at the back to head home a cross from Stuart Armstrong to lift some of the gloom that has been hanging around the Scotland squad since last week’s World Cup exit.
Johnston came through the ranks at Celtic with the duo making their first team debuts on the same day against St Johnstone in May 2017, putting their mark on the Invincibles.
You’d have got long odds on Ralston having a future at Celtic 12 months ago following a season in which he made one top team appearance, unable to get Jonjoe Kenny out of the side as a disastrous campaign came to a halt.
Given a chance out of necessity by new manager Ange Postecoglou, he grabbed it with both hands, impressing against Midtjylland even though Celtic crashed out of the Champions League.
Ralston scored Celtic’s first domestic goal of the season, at Tynecastle on July 31, more than 10 months later he is still going strong after a season full of highlights and a well earned SPFL Premiership winner’s medal.
Anthony Ralston scores on his full debut inside the first 30 minutes for @ScotlandNT! ?
Superb header! ? pic.twitter.com/i4PlQZOk0E
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) June 8, 2022
The only reason young Ralston was nearly away was the ginger whinger, the man was incapable of spotting a player. He let Gordon go, player of the year and he signed Barkas, he pissed off the squad by questioning there loyalty and we missed 10.
Any Celtic minded coach would have got 10 if they had half a talent, Lennon had none, and Gary Parker must be one hell of a coach for him to be successful in Cyprus. He will though mess that up and be back moaning about his misfortune
Ange never stops jota will arrive plus other couple players that’s a fact cv.arrived 4 years contract yes we defiantly folded like pack cards risen to the stars now going.beyond them because ange never stops