Andy Halliday claims Celtic defender is the club’s ‘scapegoat’ just like Cyriel Dessers at Rangers

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Brendan Rodgers has a few big calls to make at Celtic when the summer transfer window re-opens.

On the one hand, Celtic are utterly dominant; they have secured their 55th crown, fourth in a row, including 14th in the last 15 seasons.

On the other hand, Celtic wants to progress in Europe. This term, they reached the play-off stages of the Champions League and proved that they are showing life on the big stages.

But, for that to continue, added quality needs to come in, especially at the back, because it has proven to be a problem area for Rodgers, especially since the turn of the year.

Everyone knows that Cameron Carter-Vickers is the main guy at the back; it’s just a case of finding that regular partner because nobody seems to be taking their place.

On Sunday, as Celtic recorded a 1-1 draw at Rangers, it was Liam Scales at the heart of defence, and it’s fair to say that he had a mixed time of it.

• READ MORE: ‘Daft enough’ – How Celtic fans reacted to Liam Scales’ performance against Rangers

Liam Scales is a Celtic ‘scapegoat’ just like Cyriel Dessers at Rangers

Moments after Adam Idah missed a glorious one-v-one chance at the end of the first half, Cyriel Dessers went up the other end and opened the scoring.

He ran off Scales, muscled him off the ball, before guiding the ball into the back of the net, and it was frustrating to watch from a Celtic perspective.

But Andy Halliday told Open Goal that, just like the stick Dessers gets at Ibrox, he thinks Scales gets the same treatment at Celtic Park as soon as his team does something wrong.

“I still think Scales is better than what people think and say,” said Halliday. “Now, can you improve him? Aye. I think you can improve that position.

“I think he is the Celtic scapegoat. You talk about Dessers being it for Rangers. I think Scales is it for Celtic. I think anytime Celtic loses a game. ‘Oh, he’s better than Scales’.

“But, he could do better for the goal. 100%.”

Scales’ stats for Celtic this season

Rodgers has toyed between Scales and Auston Trusty this term, he can’t seem to make up his mind as to who is the other regular starter at the back.

As of this moment, it’s Scales playing alongside Carter-Vickers, but should Celtic invest further in a centre-back in the summer?

When you look at the stats, Scales is one of Celtic’s best-performing players, with WhoScored providing him a rating of 7.49 for his Premiership displays.