Brendan Rodgers hands special mention to Celtic defender Anthony Ralston

By Dom Toner

Celtic cruised to a 3-0 home win over Dundee on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership and it was another positive match for Anthony Ralston.

The 20-year-old defender made just his second senior appearance of the season, which came just days after he scored in a victory against Motherwell.

Ralston has now performed positively at right-back in the last two matches following an injury to senior option Mikael Lustig, who is expected to be back after Christmas.

Celtic’s academy graduate should be on cloud nine after manager Brendan Rodgers singled him out for praise after the Dundee win.

“A mention for Anthony Ralston as well who I thought was very good. He’s back to where I want him to be. He wasn’t at that level because of his injury. He defended really strong and is a hard guy to get past,” Rodgers said, as quoted by the club’s official Twitter account.

(Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Ralston should be encouraged by comments from Rodgers that suggest he is now back at the level required to compete for a first-team spot at Parkhead.

The young full-back has taken a step backwards this campaign after a senior breakthrough last season, where he showed in glimpses he could become a full first teamer in the future.

Lustig is an established player ahead of him in the Celtic XI, but hardly the most popular with supporters and Ralston may well now be able to give him a run for his money.