Rodgers signing who’s only played 1 game could end Ralston’s Celtic career
One of the more surprising choices made by Wilfried Nancy at Celtic in recent encounters has been his decision to deploy Anthony Ralston as a right-sided centre-back in the last three matches. The right-back has occupied the right side of the back three for the new manager, even though he has been usurped by Colby Donovan under Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill.
Ralston received a 4/10 player rating from Glasgow World in the 3-1 League Cup final loss to St Mirren and a 4/10 rating from 67HailHail in the 2-1 defeat to Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. Many may view Donovan as the natural substitute for the seasoned full-back, considering they are both traditional right-backs, but this perspective lacks nuance.
Why Donovan should not replace Ralston
Love it or hate it, Nancy has implemented a new system at Parkhead. The 3-4-2-1 formation has altered the team dynamics and what is expected from each position.
Celtic no longer plays with a right-back. That responsibility has effectively been divided into two distinct roles: right-sided centre-back and right wing-back. Consequently, Donovan and Ralston are not vying for the same position any longer, as they occupy different roles now. While Ralston is more akin to a classic defender who is willing to engage in duels rather than showcase attacking creativity, he is more suitable for the centre-back role.
Donovan, who provided an assist for Kieran Tierney’s goal against Aberdeen on Sunday, is better suited to the wing-back position due to the quality he brings when delivering into the box. The academy product has amassed three assists across all competitions, according to Sofascore, registering two assists in four starts within the Scottish Premiership.
Thanks to this tactical shift, Donovan may not be the player who catalyzes the end of Ralston’s career at Parkhead during his current slump in form, as he should be instead competing with Hyun-jun Yang for a spot in the starting eleven.
The rarely-seen star who could end Ralston’s Celtic career
Yet, Nancy does possess a rarely-seen talent who could potentially end Ralston’s tenure at Celtic by emerging as a starter in the right-sided centre-back position.
During the summer transfer window, Brendan Rodgers made a move to sign Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan from Manchester City, describing the centre-back as “quick” and “dominant.” Unfortunately, the 20-year-old did not make an appearance for the Northern Irish head coach, as players like Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Dane Murray, and Auston Trusty were preferred ahead of him in the defensive lineup.
Martin O’Neill finally provided the young talent with his debut for Celtic while he was in interim charge, though he opted to position him as a right-back in a 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock in the Premiership, despite him being a natural centre-back. In that match, the English defender demonstrated that he possesses the strength to handle the demands of Scottish football, winning five out of eight duels and not getting dribbled past even once at right-back, according to Sofascore.
| Vs Kilmarnock | Jahmai Simpson-Pusey |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 64 |
| Duels won | 5/8 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Clearances | 4 |
| Dribbled past | 0x |
| Pass accuracy | 97% |
As illustrated in the table above, Simpson-Pusey proved to be exceptionally reliable defensively for the Scottish club in that impressive victory under the Northern Irish manager, while also excelling in defense. His experience at right-back during his debut for Celtic could position him as the ideal candidate to replace the underperforming Ralston in the right-sided centre-back role, as he is a natural centre-back with experience as a right-back, making him the optimal fit for this hybrid position.
Ralston has been dribbled past 0.6 times per match and has completed only 86% of his attempted passes in the Premiership this season, according to Sofascore, indicating that he has been vulnerable defensively and occasionally wasteful in possession while playing as a right-back and right centre-back.
While Simpson-Pusey has accumulated just one game for Celtic as a measure of his defensive strength and ball skills, he completed 97% of his attempted passes and did not get dribbled past a single time, according to Sofascore, across two EFL Trophy matches for Manchester City’s U21s during the 2024/25 season.
The Cityzens loanee has been an unused substitute in the last two fixtures, against Dundee United and Aberdeen, signaling that he is available for selection and may feature for Nancy in the near future. With this context, the French head coach should finally give the rarely-seen talent, who has made just one first-team appearance this season, a chance to step into Ralston’s role to ultimately conclude the defender’s career at Parkhead.
Ralston’s unsatisfactory performances, as noted earlier, could render him a distant backup option should Simpson-Pusey come in to take his place and Alistair Johnston recovers from injury, motivating him to contemplate his future at the club, essentially leading to the conclusion of his career at the club.
Published: 2025-12-22 19:10:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
