Chris Sutton has backed Anthony Ralston to slot straight into the line-up after Ange Postecoglou confirmed Celtic star Alistair Johnston has a ‘significant’ injury.
The 24-year-old is now touch-and-go to return this season after suffering a heavy knock to his leg last Sunday. Johnston sustained the blow during a collision with Borna Barisic in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers.
He has been a consistent part of Postecoglou’s plans since joining Celtic from CF Montreal in January. The Hoops paid the MLS franchise £3m to sign the right-back.
Postecoglou confirms Johnston may have a season-ending injury
Only once since arriving at Parkhead has Johnston not started a Premiership fixture from a potential 14 games so far. He was an unused substitute against Hearts in March.
Postecoglou also rested the Canadian against Kilmarnock in the League Cup semi-final. But he has otherwise started Johnston in all 18 of his appearances in green-and-white yet.
Ralston, however, is now likely to come in for Johnston when Celtic visit Hearts this Sunday due to his injury. Postecoglou has also confirmed the issue may end his season.
“He got a significant knock,” Postecoglou said, via quotes by the Glasgow Times. “We will see. There is still a chance he will be available before the end of the season but it will be a week-by-week thing and we will see how he goes.”
Sutton now backs Ralston to replace Johnston in the Celtic line-up
Sutton has now backed Ralston to replace Johnston owing to his injury and settle straight into the Celtic line-up. The 24-year-old has only played 1,000 minutes so far this season.
Sutton wrote in his column for the Daily Record: “Johnston is now on the injured list but Anthony Ralston will just slot straight into the set-up. The Scotland defender was able to cover when Josip Juranovic wasn’t around.
“He bridged the gap between the Croat’s exit and the Canadian’s arrival. Hearing him say that whatever happened when he entered the pitch at Hampden was not about him but about the team winning summed it up.
“Of course players have got to say that, they are hardly going to say anything else. But with some you can tell they don’t mean it. With Ralston, you could tell that he genuinely does.”
Ralston made his 13th appearance of the season as Celtic beat Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final having come on for Johnston following his injury.
The right-back played the final 36 minutes at Hampden Park for his first outing across all competitions since March 8.
Postecoglou had not used Ralston in any of Celtic’s previous six games before he entered the action at Hampden. He has also only started the defender once in 2023 so far.
Ralston made his sole start of the calendar year yet against Hearts on March 8 and grew into the game.
Andy Halliday initially dragged the defender out of position but he responded well.
While Ralston’s passes could cut Hearts’ backline apart and Postecoglou will hope for more of the same this Sunday.
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