Anthony Ralston ready to stake claim for Euros right-back berth

THEY’RE seen as fierce rivals fighting over the same spot, but Anthony Ralston reckons he and Ross McCrorie are right back to being the best of pals again.

Ex-Rangers kid McCrorie got the nod for his debut in the 2-0 win over Gibraltar on Monday and tonight Ralston will get the chance to stake his claim in the send-off against Finland at Hampden.

5

5

While they both want to play down that flank in the opener against Germany in a week’s time, Ralston insists the former under-21s team-mates have been supporting each other just like they always did.

It’s been the same for him at the Hoops while battling it out with Josip Juranovic or Alistair Johnston.

Ralston, 25, said: “It’s the kind of thing that’s part of football at club level. Ross will have had the same at his club.

“But it’s not daggers across the dining room table or anything like that.

“I  get on really well with Ross, he’s a great guy. I’ve known him since we were kids playing against each other.

“He’s a very good player. It’s just football and the fact there’s competition in every position here, just as there is at your club.

“But it’s healthy competition at the end of the day. You embrace it and you just have to make sure when you get your opportunity, you take it.”

McCrorie is just the latest familiar face for Ralston in the senior squad.
As Scotland head for the finals as huge underdogs, he can lean on experiences from the past.

As well as McCrorie, he has lined up with Billy Gilmour, Ryan Porteous and Greg Taylor in shock triumphs over class acts like Brazil and France at successive Toulon tournaments.

Now part of the band is back together again trying to do the same in Germany.

Ralston, capped eight times, said: “It’s nice when you put it that way. There are boys here who have been involved together since the youths like Ryan, Greg, myself, Ross and Billy.

“These boys have all been involved in big international tournaments before.

“To then  be involved in a big tournament together at the top level is really nice.

“It’s good to show that throughout your journey, and despite going down different paths, you end up coming together for this.

“You’re all in that same environment, it’s all healthy competition and it’s good to push each other on. Hopefully we can all be part of it going forwards.”

Of course, Ralston’s spot on the plane to Germany hasn’t been officially rubber-stamped yet. Until it is, he claims his family are holding off trying to get there.

According to what Steve Clarke says, he’ll know for sure by the time he and the rest of the side strides out at Hampden tonight.

Being at the finals would represent the latest success story in a career that began brightly before he needed to prove himself all over again to make the grade at Celtic.

Ralston said: “It’s a case of waiting to hear what the gaffer’s decision is. I don’t think anybody is certain on what the case is going to be.

“Have I dreamed of walking out to face Germany? It’s on your mind, of course. You’d be lying if you said you hadn’t thought about it.

“But until there’s final confirmation I’m not  dwelling on it.

“At club level I’ve had to overcome things and a lot of players have had to do that.

“At international level I’ll continue to work to prove to myself as well as others.

“That’s part of football. It’s not an easy road. There are many ups and downs, so my aim is to work every day for club and at international level and when the opportunity comes, you take it.

“So if it is myself, it would be a case of embracing it.

“But my main thing would be that it wouldn’t be about me. It would be about the team and what my job is for the team to give us the best chance of being successful.”

5

Ralston’s role under Clarke is more likely to be a roving right wing-back than the more conventional right-back he has played under Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers.

He said: “I’ve played the position a few times under the manager here and I enjoy it.

“You’re able to go forwards and be part of the attack,  then you need to show your defensive qualities as well.

“The way the gaffer coaches it here makes it easier because of what I’m told to do and  the instructions I’m given. It’s then up to me to follow the instructions and  go in and do the job for the team.”

At Celtic, Ralston was once a team-mate of Lewis Morgan, who was yesterday handed a late call-up to the squad.

Now at New York Red Bulls, Ralston is sure the attacker will be a great addition.

He said: “I know Lewis from Celtic, but we also played Under-21s together.

“He’s a great player and he has done really well over in the MLS.

“I wish him all the best. Congratulations to him for  getting called into the squad. It’s a proud moment for him and his family. It will be good to get a catch up with him.”

5

With the country on a high ahead of the Euros it’s also important tonight’s friendly clash against the Finns is a confidence booster, rather than a damp squib.

Ralston added: “You can  feel things are building up around you, even before we met up.

“You meet people and bump into them and they are saying, ‘I hope you go out there and do well’.

“There is a real feel good factor around it and that’s really nice. You want everyone to enjoy and embrace it, so hopefully we can give them a good performance and something to be happy about.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page