Celtic pundit Paul John Dykes has talked about the situation of the club’s defender Anthony Ralston.
Dykes was hosting the latest episode of the ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ podcast and the panel discussed numerous issues involving the Hoops, including their next manager and potential outgoings. One player that Dykes focused on was Ralston and the right-back’s future.
He claimed that Celtic could be left with Lee O’Connor as the first-choice option for right-back since he’s heard that Ralston has already departed the club.
Was Ralston unfairly treated by Celtic?
Yes
No
Ralston has been at the club since his youth days, making his debut for the side way back in the 2015/16 Premiership campaign.
When talking about the Scotsman’s situation after discussing the futures – and expected exits – of Kristoffer Ajer and Jack Hendry, Dykes said: “[It] would leave us with a defence of Ralston at right-back and again, can someone give the status of Ralston, because I know he’s still under contract, but I heard elsewhere that he has been paid up and has left the building. If that’s the case, it’s Lee O’Connor, who’s been out on loan at Tranmere Rovers.”
TIF Thoughts on Ralston’s future…
In the 2020/21 campaign, Ralston could only make a single appearance in all competitions for the club and was left on the bench multiple times. When Jeremie Frimpong left the club in January, even then Ralston wasn’t given a run in the team as Jonjoe Kenny arrived on loan from Everton.
This suggests that the club barely trusted Ralston in the first team and his lack of game time is only harming his development as a player. So it would be the right decision for both parties to part ways soon – whether or not his fate has already been sealed as Dykes hinted.
In other news: Sky Sports journalist’s Laxalt news has got a lot of Celtic fans talking