GREG Taylor has backed his fellow Celtic full-back Tony Ralston to build on his impressive start to the 2021/22 campaign and improve even further in the coming months.

Ralston was the only specialist right back in the Parkhead squad when new manager Ange Postecoglou arrived in Scotland last month.

However, the 22-year-old has grasped the chance the Greek-Australian coach has given him and been one of the Glasgow club’s outstanding performers.

Taylor has been delighted to see his team mate, who has started in all eight of Celtic’s matches and scored two goals, flourish this season.

And he is confident his countryman can, despite Croatian defender Josip Juranovic being targeted, continue to feature in the first team and develop his game. 

“He’s done really, really well,” he said. “Tony can be delighted with himself. There’s a lot of boys who have done really well since the gaffer came in. 

“But certainly Tony has done really well. Tony’s performances since he came back from pre-season have been excellent. He’s played well in most games. 

“I thought on Wednesday night he was outstanding. I’m sure he’s delighted with himself, but he’s a level-headed lad who’ll be looking to continue to improve also.” 

Taylor admitted that Ralston, who has netted in cinch Premiership matches against Hearts and Dundee, has inspired him to contribute more in the final third of the park. 

“I'm not promising 10 a season,” he said. “I've scored two in my career so I could certainly improve on it.”

Postecoglou’s use of inverted full-backs has raised eyebrows this season, but Taylor stressed that he and Ralston are both relishing the change.

“The way the gaffer wants to play is physically and mentally demanding for everyone,” he said.  “Whether it is the boys at the top pressing or the guys at the back trying to squeeze the line.

“But these are the strains you want to put on yourself as a footballer because you want to try to push yourself to produce your maximum every game. 

“I think the demands are just different. The gaffer is got his own way of playing and it is one that we have all bought into and you can see that is coming to fruition now and we are enjoying it. I don’t think there are right or wrong answers, it is just a different way of playing.

“I just want to learn and improve every game. I’ve got a good club, good coaching staff here that have helped me do that since I first signed and I now have a new manager doing that.

“I really enjoy the way the gaffer wants to play, whether it is a full-back coming inside and getting on the ball and feeding a winger, I enjoy that aspect of it. I’m eager to, I hope, continue to improve and continue to learn.”