Liam Scales has impressed when given the chance and against all odds has turned himself into a first pick central defender for Celtic…
Despite the disappointment of last night there were some positives to take. We seemed more assured as we’ve been in recent weeks and it looks like the players are clicking into gear under Brendan Rodgers.
One of those other positives is the form of Liam Scales. The Irishman has done brilliantly since coming in to the side, albeit through injury problems. Liam has done well domestically, the superb showing at Ibrox the stick out performance.
Question marks were however raised over his ability to cut it in the Champions League, but boy has he answered those questions and some. He didn’t look out of place against Feyenoord and was arguably our best player as we had to play a chunk of the game minus two men.
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Last night he looked assured against Lazio, both on the ball and in his defensive ability. He had a decent game and can hold his head high. He looked as if he had no future at the club and was only thrown into the side due to Injuries. He’s shown great mental strength along with his ability to get through that and establish himself at the heart of our defence.
With CCV now back to full fitness and Nat Phillips and Gustav Lagerbielke also there, not to mention that Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh have still to return, it would be very harsh if Liam was dropped.
He’s done more than enough to earn his place in the centre of defence alongside CCV. He will have every right to feel aggrieved if he is pushed aside. He deserves a regular starting slot and you would imagine that Brendan Rodgers will be thinking exactly the same way as he ponders his preferred central defensive options in the days, weeks and months ahead.
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We lost Carl Starfelt and brought in Maik Nawrocki and Gustav Lagerbielke. Injuries meant we added Nat Phillips on a loan deal from Liverpool until January. Stephen Welsh was given a new contract while conversations with a persistent Barry Robson at Aberdeen continued over a permanent move to Aberdeen for Scales.
Brendan Rodgers was looking at having four central defenders in his quad and it looked like that would be Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, Gustav Lagerbielke and Stephen Welsh with Scales seemingly surplus to requirements.
Injuries have changed all that though and the manager has ended up with five instead of four plus temporary cover on top in the shape of Nat Phillips. So competition is going to be even tough but it’s hard to imagine Liam Scales if he remains fit and continues to impress as he’s done when given a chance, dropping out of the Celtic team. If that happened it would be harsh to say the least.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Join The Celtic Star at the Kerrydale on Thursday 19 October when we celebrate the launch of Matt Corr’s new book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season as Celtic manager. We’ll have the trophies that the Celtic team won that season plus well delighted welcome our special guests John Hartson and Stephen McManus, both stars of that Celtic team.
And we have other guests to be announced later this week plus there’s live music from the wonderful Boolavogue. Tickets are selling fast for what is sure to be a wonderful night of Celtic conversation and music and you can order below…
