Liam Scales has been speaking to assembled media in his native Ireland about his career rise into the Celtic team and UEFA Champions League.
Scales has undoubtedly been the surprise package of the Celtic first-team squad this season.
He looked destined to be leaving the club in the summer months but injuries to key defensive talents such as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki catapulted him into Brendan Rodgers’ plans.
Now he has Champions League football appearances under his belt and is winning caps with the Republic of Ireland on the international scene. It has been a dizzying spell for the 25-year-old.
Liam Scales came close to Aberdeen switch from Celtic
Scales reckons it’s extra special for him to represent Celtic as an Irishman given the club’s roots. He’s also shared he held discussions with the Dons about a return to Pittodrie. He could well have signed a contract there.
Speaking to The Irish Independent, he said: “I suppose at the start of the year I think I came back into pre-season with Celtic and most people thought I was going to go back to Aberdeen. It was sort of in the pipeline, there was talk of it happening.
“Then obviously a few injuries happened. I think I’ve surprised in the sense that maybe I wasn’t fully in the picture, then a few injuries happened and I was thrown straight in and did well, and I’ve held my place now.
“I spoke to them at the end of my loan and they were keen to have me back for a year or 18 months and move me on, and I loved Aberdeen, Aberdeen is a brilliant football club. I was really looking forward to trying to get back there and do that, but it has worked out better for me now and I’m happy that it has.
“Playing for Celtic is massive. For me and my family, they are all so proud and I am proud of myself. Being Irish, there is a connection there, a big fan base in Ireland. For me to be sort of representing the Irish at Celtic, it’s great. I’m trying to enjoy every minute of it because who knows how long it will last.”
With the backing of Rodgers, Scales doesn’t look like coming out of the Celtic team anytime soon despite competition from Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke. He’s a consistent presence in that defensive line and is building a productive partnership with Carter-Vickers.
The Irishman may not be the player many expected to replace Carl Starfelt, but he has rarely let Celtic down yet and until he does, he’ll keep his place in the starting eleven.
In other news, Serie A champions Napoli appoint manager who was keen on Celtic job in 2021.
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