THERE is something of the Cinderella story about Anthony Ralston's rise, fall and rise again at Celtic.

Making his first-team debut in 2016 at 16, Ralston's career has been a bit of a slow-burner. Three loan spells at Queen's Park, Dundee United and St Johnstone had many of the Celtic faithful convinced that he wasn't going to cut it in Paradise.

Confession time: I was one of the doubters. I gave Ralston a hard time and accused him of being Celtic's equivalent to Rangers Kirk Broadfoot who was once famously described as "a player of limited ability."

I really do hope he has taken great personal satisfaction from ramming my words straight back down my throat.

This season's irresistible form culminated in Ralston penning a new deal at Celtic after agreeing on a contract until the summer of 2025.

Not bad for the former Celtic youth academy graduate whose previous deal was due to end in May.

Interestingly enough, more than half of Ralston's 41 senior Celtic appearances have now come this season under Ange Postecoglou.

So what has happened? Why the sudden transformation in Ralston?

According to the player himself, fatherhood has been the inspiration behind it all.

"My little girl is a massive part of my life and everything I do now is for her," Ralston said earlier in the season. "It gives me that extra motivation. I can really focus on my football for her and continue on the right pathway for her future."

Wonderful words from a player who clearly possesses a wise old head on young shoulders.

This is a lad who has knuckled down big time, a whole-hearted player who is living the dream of playing for Celtic and giving his all in every match.

He may well still be a raw product and his many detractors will point to his so-called defensive deficiencies.

We must also remember that he is also performing in the Scottish Premiership's stingiest defence. Celtic have conceded just seven goals in the league this season.

I would ask those critics to name another player who has turned their whole Celtic career around in such a short space of time?

He must have read countless times that this player or that player was coming in at right-back to take his position, that whenever Celtic had a full squad at their disposal then he would be the first casualty of war.

Ralston has just steadily got on with his job. The irony of all ironies is that Celtic signed a bonafide right-back in Croatia international Josip Juranovic and he is being forced to play at left-back partly because of Ralston's form.

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This is also the same player who this season dragged David Turnbull off the canvas after he had made a howler and gifted Bayer Leverkusen the opening goal in a Europa League tie at Celtic Park.

The same player who confronted and pointed the finger in the faces of the opposition after one of their players dared to stick the boot into Kyogo Furuhashi.

I don't know about you but these are the kind of qualities and traits that supporters adore. A higher-profile player would be getting lauded for showing "captain material".

It's all very well having gifted technicians in your team but sometimes a Scottish influence and homegrown talent with out-and-out desire in a team like Celtic are exactly what is required.

In Ralston, Celtic have a player who can not only gee-up those around them and has the desire to stop goals at one end and score goals at the other.

In short, he has forced Celtic's hand by making the club offering him a new contract a no-brainer.

Ralston can be the beacon of light and poster boy for any of the current crop of youngsters battling to catch Ange Postecoglou's eye and make their way into the Celtic first team.

We have already witnessed the inclusion of Adam Montgomery, Stephen Welsh and Dane Murray this season.

If Mikey Johnston needed a reminder that you can change the narrative and frame your own destiny then he need look no further than Ralston. He proves that it is never too late to salvage your reputation at Celtic.

Johnston may have had a stop-start career and the likes of Welsh might have missed a few matches recently but Ralston essentially missed out on a few years at his boyhood idols.

Yet through sheer grit and determination - and attitude and application - he has made himself a mainstay of Postecoglou's Celtic first team.

 

Now the debate is raging as to whether Ralston should be included in Steve Clarke's Scotland international squad.

Clarke clearly favours Motherwell captain Stephen O'Donnell and Nathan Patterson of Rangers.

O'Donnell has credit in the bank especially after a wonderful display in the European Championships against England at Wembley while Patterson has impressed in light and dark blue despite rarely tasting first-team football overall.

It may be premature talk right now to suggest that Ralston can cut it at the international level. However, if he can replicate his form and can keep his consistency levels high then he will surely be knocking on the international door sooner or later.

That in itself gives Ralston fuel and ammunition and a further goal to chase. He has finally shed the whipping boy tag.

From one Anthony to another: "Go on my 'Ston!"