Why Brendan Rodgers' possession-based football will see Celtic man excel at Euro 2024

STEVE Clarke has expressed confidence the possession-based football that Celtic play under Brendan Rodgers will enable Anthony Ralston to integrate into the Scotland team at Euro 2024 without any difficulties.

Ralston is set to start for the national team at right wing back in the tournament opener against hosts Germany in the Allianz Arena in Munich on Friday night.

The 25-year-old has not been a regular starter for the Parkhead club during the 2023/24 campaign – but Aaron Hickey of Brentford and Nathan Patterson of Everton are both unavailable due to long-term injuries.

However, the defender, who is vying for a place with Ross McCrorie of Bristol City, did his cause no harm whatsoever in the warm-up friendly against Finland at Hampden on Friday evening.

(Image: PA) He performed confidently in his specialist position during the 2-2 draw as he won his ninth cap for his country - and he certainly impressed his watching manager greatly.

Clarke, whose team will face Germany, Switzerland and Hungary in Group A in the next fortnight, feels the style of play that his Celtic counterpart Rodgers, who landed a Premiership and Scottish Cup double last term, favours will help Ralston to shine with Scotland.

“Tony was good against Finland. I thought he started the game quite safe, but he grew in confidence after that. He started to get in the right positions and put in a few good decent crosses into the box.  

“He plays for a club side who pass the ball a lot, so I imagine his training sessions will be pretty much possession based. He is good on the ball, keeps the ball, doesn’t give it away in dangerous areas.”

Clarke has a big decision to make about who to play in attack against Germany in the coming days – Che Adams or Lawrence Shankland.  

He decided not to risk the former, who had netted a volley in the 2-0 triumph over Gibraltar in Faro on Monday evening, against Finland due to a minor knock. But he was impressed with how the latter, who made it 2-0 when he headed in a Robertson cross, worked the opposition defence during his time on the park.  

Asked if the Hearts forward had enhanced his prospects of playing at Euro 2024, he said: “Quite a lot I think. He gave me a big smile when he came off. It’s important because, listen, strikers live on goals. 

“Lawrence was a little bit frustrated, I think, after the Gibraltar game because any chances that fell didn’t fall to him. But he kept getting in there on Friday night and he eventually got his head on one. Strikers live on goals.”