Everton were thumped 4-0 at Manchester United on Saturday but would Celtic youngster Anthony Ralston be a welcome addition to their defence?
Anthony Ralston is going from strength to strength at Celtic.
At the start of the season, the 18-year-old right-back had only featured three times for the Scottish Champions. These days, he has cemented his place in the first-team, taken on the world’s most expensive player in the Champions League and is reportedly the subject of interest from south of the border.
And if the Premier League trio were not impressed enough already by the Bellshill-born full-back, who made his Scotland Under-21 bow during the recent international break, he has added versatility to his list of qualities.
Ralston was fielded on the right of a back three by Brendan Rodgers as Celtic got back to winning ways after their PSG mauling with a comfortable 4-0 home win against Ross County at Parkhead. He was solid at the back and still managed to get forward with purpose, even hitting the post as he came within a whisker of a first league goal in Celtic colours.
And Ralston’s Rolls Royce display in a new role should not pass Everton by – particularly with Ronald Koeman’s struggling side haemorrhaging goals at an alarming rate.
They have lost each of their last four games with an aggregate score of 12-0 and the three-man backline of Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka and £30 million summer signing Michael Keane (BBC) has looked susceptible throughout.
However, if Koeman is insisting on a back-three, then Ralston would come in handy either as one of the central defenders or as an orthodox wing-back.
Nonetheless, you just can’t see Celtic selling one of their prized assets before he’s even sewn up a place in the starting XI.
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