Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston has been rewarded with a late call-up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad, ahead of their final group game in World Cup qualifying.

The news was confirmed late last night, with the in-form Hoops full-back being called into the side to replace suspended Rangers defender Nathan Patterson, who will miss Monday’s fixture against Denmark due to accumulating too many yellow cards.

In reaction to the news, speaking to the Daily Record, Clarke revealed a covid issue blocked Ralston from getting a call up sooner :

“Tony’s been given a chance by a manager who trusts him a lot to put him in there.

“He’s stuck by him, and credit to the player, he’s taken his chance.

“He has probably been waiting for it for a long time, but he’s really taken it.

“Any time I’ve seen him for Celtic this season, he’s been really impressive.

“I did try to call him up to one of the previous squads, but unfortunately, a Covid issue put paid to that.

“It’s nice to have him here now.”

It has been a brilliant season and last few weeks for the 22-year old who has also recently just signed a new long-term deal to stay with Celtic.

His performances under new boss Ange Postecoglou have been very impressive, with Ralston developing into a key player under the 56-year old.

That was exemplified in the club’s last fixture, in which he played a huge part in three of the four goals against Dundee before the international break – his development has come on leaps and bounds in such a short space of time.

Congratulations to Tony on a well-deserved call-up, and hopefully, the first of many, we can see him joining fellow Hoops teammates Callum McGregor and David Turnbull.

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