Liam Scales continues to defy the odds at Celtic and once again showed his mettle on the Champions League stage with an outstanding performance against Atalanta on Wednesday night.
The Republic of Ireland international has been an ever-present in Brendan Rodgers’ line-up this term, starting every match bar the Bhoys’ 5-2 victory over Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final.
With Celtic’s heroic display against Atalanta the talk of the Scottish football public, Liam Scales’ role within the shut-out on Italian soil is just the latest mark of his rise to prominence.
Per stat-trackers Fotmob, the former Shamrock Rovers man completed 13 defensive actions on the night, illustrating his commitment to the cause.
Post-match, James McFadden lauded Liam Scales and Auston Trusty’s showing against Atalanta, citing the ‘outstanding’ pair as a catalyst for a pivotal result in Bergamo.
The former Scotland international wasn’t the only one left impressed, as Irish pundit Richie Sadlier offered his assessment of Scales’ display against a notoriously difficult opponent.
Richie Sadlier on Liam Scales’ performance
Speaking live on RTE after Atalanta’s draw with Celtic, Sadlier saluted Scales for his performance on the night and how he has managed to make wider career progress.
He stated: “I can’t have been the only one who feared the worst for that Celtic team going to Atalanta tonight based on how things went for them in Dortmund in the last round of games.
“To go there and get a clean sheet and a point is almost as impressive as what they did on the opening night at home against Slovan Bratislava.
“For Scales to go there and get player of the match. When you go back to the time when he got into the team first, there was always this kind of understanding that he was in because a set of circumstances just went his way, people were injured, unavailable and that’s all the manager had. That was the case.
“But now you think; he’s not just earned the spot, but his status within that dressing room now. To get Champions League player of the match awards off the back of a month where he’s started twice for his country and we’re hoping the partnership with Nathan Collins can become something we can bank on. His career is flying.
“You hear alot about how he applied himself and his work-rate, you’d be glad of every good night he has, he deserves it.”
Liam Scales is undroppable for Celtic
Even when Cameron Carter-Vickers returns for Celtic after his injury, there is no justification to be had that Scales should be dropped on current form.
The Irishman is thriving in his surroundings and has grown in stature on the pitch, setting an example that others hope to follow when playing alongside him.
Last season, there were moments that signalled a need for improvement, but Scales is one of the most important figures at Celtic at the current time of writing. Long may that continue.
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