New boy is relishing chance to help United

Ralston brings same mindset to play-off push as he hao when tackling Neymar for Celtic

Anthony Ralston has gone toe to toe with Neymar but now faces an even bigger challenge – helping Dundee United gain promotion.

Ralston has joined the struggling Tangerines on loan from Celtic for the rest of the season, and it was while wearing the hoops that he came up against the Brazilian superstar.

Neymar was in the Paris St-germain side that won 5-0 in the Champions League at Celtic Park on September 12.

Rather than stand back and admire the world’s most expensive player, Ralston got stuck into his opponent and was “rewarded” with a handshake snub and refusal to swap shirts from a huffy Neymar.

The 19-year-old Scot brushed it all off and is now fully focused on getting more experience in United’s first team.

He will have his work cut out, along with his new teammates, if he is to achieve the Tangerines’ goal of finishing in second spot and then negotiating the promotion play-offs.

The latest poor result came on Tuesday night as they were beaten 3-2 at Tannadice by Queen of the South after coming back from two goals down.

Asked about his clash with Neymar, Ralston said: “That was an experience!

“No matter where I am playing or who I am playing against I always have the same mindset.

“It is about doing the best I can for the team.

“I also want to get the best I can out of it now, and that means getting game time with United.

“I want to play and help the team get to the play-offs and hopefully then achieve promotion.

“It was good to get back playing. “As for the game, the result was obviously disappointing.

“In the first half we started well and it was a sloppy goal that we gave away.

“In just the few days I have been here i have seen that there is a fighting spirit about the team. ANTHONY RALSTON

Picture: SNS Anthony Ralston on his Dundee United debut against Queen of the South.