Ralston is seizing the moment, insists Ange

IN the early weeks of this season, Anthony Ralston may have struggled to win a popularity contest in his own household.

Sent out on loan to St Johnstone last term having previously been farmed out to Dundee United, the consensus among Celtic fans was that he simply wasn’t up to the task of providing cover at right-back let alone make the position his own.

While the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as manager in the summer offered the player an opportunity for redemption, his chances of succeeding seemed slight at best.

Over the past four months, though, Ralston hasn’t so much got his foot in the door as put his shoulder to it and barged it wide open.

An astonishing goal-saving tackle against Ferencvaros last week might even have won over the last of his critics.

An extension to the contract which expires at the end of this season will soon be his reward for refusing to have his future decided by his past.

‘The important thing for Tony is to keep doing what he’s doing,’

Postecoglou explained. ‘I don’t think he’s thinking about contracts. He’s thinking about taking the opportunity that’s been given to him this year.

‘Every week he works hard and wants to improve. He’s having an impact in games.

‘Like all footballers, when they do those things, the rest of it takes care of itself — contract issues and all that kind of stuff.

‘That happens pretty naturally when you are performing like he is. I’m sure he’ll get rewarded.

‘Other people might have a different opinion of him but from the moment I walked in, all I’ve seen is a footballer who’s really eager to learn. He really wanted an opportunity and really wanted to take it.’

Postecoglou, who has no fresh injury concerns, is reading little into Hibernian’s recent run of three straight defeats.

‘I think they are a good side and that it will be a good challenge,’ he said.

‘They have had a little bit of a dip but they aren’t in crisis by any stretch.’