Colby Donovan injury blow opens door for Anthony Ralston

April 9, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Celtic’s preparations for the decisive stretch of the season have been dealt another potential blow, with defender Colby Donovan undergoing medical assessment on a knee problem. This will open the door for Anthony Ralston as Celtic’s last man standing right back…

Colby Donovan has a shot at goal. Dundee v Celtic. Sunday 5 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

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The Scottish champions are already short of options at right-back, with Alistair Johnston and Julian Araujo sidelined and it is uncertain when both will return.

Donovan – a product of the club’s academy – was forced to withdraw from Scot Gemmill’s Scotland Under-21 squad ahead of fixtures against Czechia and Portugal after sustaining the injury during the 2-0 defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice a fortnight ago.

Having only recently returned to action, the youngster featured for 67 minutes in Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Dundee at Dens Park last weekend before being replaced by Anthony Ralston.

Now, as per Stephen McGowan in The Herald, the club is now awaiting scan results as they approach the closing weeks of the campaign, with the title race intensifying against rivals Hearts and the Ibrox club.

Meanwhile, first-choice right-back Johnston – who has been out since October – has encountered a further complication in his recovery after linking up with the Canada squad during the recent international break.

Speaking last week, Martin O’Neill said: “He went away with the Canadian national side, was doing some running and had a bit of a setback on his final day of training, which was really disconcerting for us.”

“In the wider scheme of things, for the length of time he’s been out, hopefully it’s not too bad.”

On-loan full-back Julian Araujo is currently back with parent club Bournemouth as he undergoes treatment for a quadriceps injury.

Martin O’Neill at Dens Park. Dundee v Celtic. Sunday 5 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

O’Neill is hopeful the Mexico international can return before the end of the campaign, but there are concerns Celtic could enter Saturday’s clash with St Mirren with Anthony Ralston as their only recognised first-team right-back available.

From Ralston’s point of view a run of starts at Celtic will be helpful to his own hopes of playing some part at this summer’s World Cup Finals.

Conor Spence

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