REJUVENATED RALSTON TIPPED TO EARN A SCOTLAND CALL-UP

ANTHONY RALSTON has been hailed by Ange Postecoglou as the best right-back in Scotland this season. And the Celtic boss believes maintaining that form will eventually lead to international recognition. Ralston signed a new four-year deal with the Parkhead club on Tuesday, just hours after he was again overlooked by Steve Clarke in his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Denmark. Postecoglou, though, believes a cap call can arrive if the 22-year-old continues to churn out the kind of performances that have made him a Celtic mainstay in recent months. ‘I don’t see any reason why not,’ said the Australian. ‘Every footballer has that ambition within them and he is showing that. In his position, he’s probably the stand-out performer this year in the Premiership, so I’m sure he’s on Steve Clarke’s radar and, at the end of the day, he needs to keep performing so that his form is compelling enough that he gets selected. ‘That will be in the back of his mind, but he knows he needs to keep performing for Celtic first.’ Postecoglou was delighted to get a new deal for Ralston over the line to mark his status as a first-team regular. ‘It’s a boost and a great reward for his hard work and Listen here: Ralston has been highly impressive the level of football he’s been playing,’ said the Celtic boss. ‘He has a great opportunity now, he has security at the club to make a career for himself and that’s what he’s always wanted here at Celtic. It’s up to him to keep improving.’ Asked about being left out of the Scotland squad, Ralston said: ‘I’ve said it before, it’s not my decision. ‘It would obviously be an honour to represent my country, but my main priority is Celtic and to be playing here. ‘All I can do is do the best I can, keep working hard and hopefully it will come.’