The one thing I really like about the international break is the differing opinions that come out about the Celtic players who are away with their respective countries.
Celtic currently have 15 players on international duty and this morning we discussed how Honduras manager, Reinaldo Rueda, shared his concerns about Luis Palma’s lack of game time at Celtic.
We also spoke about how Paulo Bernardo was looking to kick on in the Portugal U21 team as they look to qualify for Euro 2025.
The point is, even though there is no domestic action, there are still plenty of talking points for the Celtic fans to get their teeth into. And this next one is sure to raise some eyebrows.
Celtic’s Liam Scales talked up ahead of Ireland match
Liam Scales is currently on international duty with the Republic of Ireland. After the Irish suffered a home defeat at the hands of England at the weekend, former football manager, Shane Keegan, was unhappy that the Celtic defender was left on the bench for the match.
Keegan told The 42, “Has Heimir Hallgrímsson, John O’Shea or anybody given any reasoning behind Liam Scales not starting the England game?
“If you’re playing three at the back then the left-sided centre-half has to be left-footed!
“We’re not stuck for a left-footed player to play in that role at the moment. Liam Scales is flying it. Ok you can argue the merits of the level that he’s playing at, but he had just come out of the Rangers game where he had played extremely well.
“What could possibly suggest from what Liam Scales is doing at the moment that he wasn’t good enough to be in that starting 11 vs England?
“If you have a left-footed option and don’t want to play him, you need to have a serious reason not to.
“As an outside player in a back three, is Liam Scales not a better defender than Seamus Coleman? Obviously, Seamus is a better option as a fullback, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around that one.”
Scales showing his importance
For all the debate over whether Scales is good enough to take Celtic forward on the European stage, no one can argue that he hasn’t been excellent over the last 14 months for Brendan Rodgers.
Stepping in at the height of an injury crisis, Scales helped deliver a double for Celtic and earned his place in the Irish national team.
Now with five caps, it seems that the tactics Ireland are using are perfect for the Celtic defender and the fact he was overlooked for the game against England doesn’t seem to have gone down too well.
Ireland faces Greece tonight in their Nations League group Group B match and they must take something from the game after the England defeat.
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