Celtic full-back Anthony Ralston has revealed that Brendan Rodgers kept him going and insists the manager has been great in terms of motivating him to keep working in training for a berth in the starting eleven.
Ralston, who came up through the ranks at Parkhead, made his first start of the season against Motherwell after the injury suffered by Mikael Lustig.
The 20-year-old marked his first appearance for Celtic this term by netting the opening goal in a 3-0 win at Parkhead, while also clocking the full quota of 90 minutes during the win over Dundee on Saturday.
However, Lustig’s return from injury this week could spell the end for Ralston ahead of crucial Premiership games against Aberdeen and Rangers coming up before the winter break.
Ralston, who had to wait patiently for his chance this season, revealed that Rodgers kept him going in training and insisted the Celtic boss has been great in terms of providing motivation.
“He helped me out during the tough time, and he kept me going during the dip that I had”, Ralston was quoted as saying by the Herald.
“So I kept my hunger, I kept going in to training, and kept showing that, hopefully, one day I’d get my opportunity and that I could take it.
“I’ve had wee chats with him.
"He just told me to keep going, to keep working away.
"He was great, so I just had to keep working.
“It was tough at times, but you just need to get through the hard times and keep going in to training.
"You just need to keep trying to impress, which was the mentality that I had.”
Ralston, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Dundee United, has represented Scotland across various age groups in the past.
