Anthony Ralston has scored four goals in 23 Celtic appearances this season
Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston has been called into the Scotland squad for Monday's World Cup qualifier against Denmark and could even start.
It follows the suspension that rules out Nathan Patterson after the Rangers player received a second booking after scoring in Friday's win over Moldova.
It is the first time Ralston has been called into the senior squad.
Head coach Steve Clarke stressed that "anybody I pick for the squad is a potential starter".
The 22-year-old will compete for a starting place with Motherwell's Stephen O'Donnell as Scotland, having secured a runners-up spot in Group F, host the runaway leaders needing at least a draw to secure a seeded spot in the World Cup play-off semi-finals.
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"I think I've shown I can call people into the squad and start them in games," Clarke said. "Anthony's had a terrific start to the season with Celtic and fully deserves his call-up."
Ralston, a product of the Celtic's youth system who had loan spells with Queen's Park, Dundee United and St Johnstone, had struggled for game time with his parent club until Ange Postecoglou became manager this summer and has gone on to score four goals in 23 appearances.
He has played for Scotland at under-21 level but made his last appearance at that level in 2018.
His addition to the squad comes after Clarke admitted he has a "difficult" selection dilemma – having to balance his desire to push for a seeded place in the play-offs with the need to ensure Scotland go into their semi-final without a number of players.
Eight players, including O'Donnell, are one booking away from a suspension heading into the sell out at Hampden Park.
Captain Andy Robertson, centre-half Jack Hendry, midfielders Scott McTominay, John McGinn and Billy Gilmour, plus strikers Che Adams and Kevin Nisbet, are the others.
Five of those players started in Chisinau, although McTominay misses out with a throat infection for the second game running.
Fellow midfielder Ryan Christie and Lyndon Dykes return after their bans against Moldova, although the latter is an injury doubt.
Asked how he would manage the suspension tightrope ahead of the semi-final in March, Clarke added: "Just try to win against Denmark. We're not the only country in that position.
"It is just the nature of the competition – you pick up yellow cards. Players at the top level are used to playing a lot of matches with a yellow card suspension hanging over them.
"There's also four months until March and that's a long time in football.
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