Barry Ferguson has waxed lyrical about Liam Scales and how he has managed to turn his Celtic career around.
Despite Brendan Rodgers being without key players during the early stages of the new season, including Cameron Carter-Vickers, it has resulted in it having zero effect on the club’s results and performances.
Seven wins from eight league games. A win at Ibrox. And a seven-point lead at the top. Liam Scales has played a huge part in such a positive start from Celtic.
As Barry Ferguson touched upon, the 25-year-old has grabbed the situation at Parkhead with ‘both hands’ and now deserves the plaudits that are coming his way, as he told Go Radio.
On Saturday, he started alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the defence, as Brendan Rodgers’ side secured a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock.
If it wasn’t for the injuries at the start of the season, then there is every chance that Liam Scales could have left, yet it’s ‘crazy’ and ‘mental’ how football pans out sometimes.
Liam Scales’ turnaround at Celtic
“He brings balance,” said Ferguson. “I can’t disagree with what big John (Hartson) has said there (Scales starting next to Carter-Vickers),” said Ferguson.
“It’s crazy how football works. It’s crazy. He was well out of the picture at Celtic. Obviously suspensions and injuries, that gives a player an opportunity in football and, let’s be honest, he has grabbed it with both hands. He has.
“I think each game, he has got better and better. I think he will start to improve because of who is beside him, now back from injury, Cameron Carter-Vickers. He might now bring his game on even more so.
“It’s mental. It looked as though it was going to be a case of going back to Aberdeen. He was certainly going out of the door, but you have got to give the guy credit where credit is due. He thought ‘I have got this opportunity and I am going for it’ – and he has certainly done that. Fair play to the guy.”
Answers are always closer to home
Given how Scales has performed, it would have been interesting to see if the powers that be would have signed the likes of Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke had they known he would put in such strong performances.
It proves that when you are looking for answers or depth in quality, then sometimes your answers are closer to home.
Either way, this is now a much-needed headache for Rodgers because, when his backline is fully fit, he will have some very good options to pick from.
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