The international break is over and the Celtic fans can return to watching Brendan Rodgers pick up where he left off and look to record a win over Livingston this Sunday.
Rodgers had his team firing and confident until the break kicked in and will be hoping for a repeat of the St Johnstone performance against David Martindale‘s men.
And whilst the Celtic manager will be delighted that all his players returned injury-free, there will be a little bit of annoyance that Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston were not utilised properly by the Scotland manager, Steve Clarke.
Taylor was an unused substitute in both games against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland whilst Ralston has a bit part to play after Nathan Patterson was the preferred choice in that right wingback role.
And that was much to the annoyance of Peter Grant.
Anthony Ralston is better than Everton defender
The former Celtic hero was speaking after watching Patterson struggle against the Irish and it was the Everton defender’s mistake that eventually cost Clarke dearly.
Grant said [The Go Radio Football Show], “I think Tony Ralston, you need competitors, you need people to go and run, people who can defend, I think he’s a better defender than Patterson.
“Better defender, but Patterson is probably better going the opposite way. And that’s the only question mark I would have between the two on who would go [to the Euros] as well or would he take both even though Hickey is there.”
Grant is 100% correct here. Ralston is a much better defender but I also think he is just as good as Patterson going forward.
Rated at 7.2 by Fotmob for this season, the Celtic fullback does hold impressive attacking stats.
Ralston has an expected assist rate of 2.36 per game and has created 19 chances. These rank amongst some of the best in the league which is a great feat considering his lack of first-team minutes.
Ralston also has a passing accuracy of over 88% and a long ball accuracy of 61.5%. Where he does need to improve is his crossing as he is one of the poorest performers in the league with an accuracy of 22.2%.
Ralston has been a marauding attacking fullback under Ange Postecoglou and had it not been for Alistair Johnston, he would be the same player under Rodgers.
The Hoops defender must be given an opportunity in the next international break to show what he can do because Ralston can offer something to Steve Clarke and his big to qualify from the Euro 2024 group stages.