Could Ralston’s display make Mikael Lustig rethink Celtic plans?

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Anthony Ralston was superb as Celtic went back to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

With January just around the corner, it appears that Celtic will soon have to make a decision on what the future holds for Mikael Lustig.

The Daily Record recently reported that he is out of contract in the summer and AIK are interested in taking him back to Sweden when his deal expires.

The Record suggested that Lustig’s preferred option would be to stay at Celtic – and the Hoops have the opportunity to activate a clause that will see his deal extended by a further year.

Given his importance to the club over the years, it would probably be a safe bet to assume that Brendan Rodgers will decide to keep him for another year.

But perhaps Wednesday’s win over Motherwell could end up proving to be a defining moment in Lustig’s spell.

Anthony Ralston made his first appearance of the season in the game. The right-back was superb and capped his performance with a goal as Celtic went back to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

The display has surely cemented Ralston as the second-choice ahead of Cristian Gamboa, and has potentially put a bit of pressure on Lustig.

Given that it was his first appearance of the campaign, it would also not be out of the question to suggest that Ralston could quickly get better the more time he spends on the pitch.

And when you consider how quickly someone like Ryan Christie saw their stock rise when they found some stunning form, Ralston should really believe that he can force his way into Rodgers’ plans if he continues to impress.

And if Ralston can kick on and actually take Lustig’s spot on a permanent basis, perhaps Celtic or Lustig will end up having a rethink regarding whether he will still be at the club next season.