Liam Scales’ rise at Celtic this season has been fantastic to watch for all sorts of reasons.
Firstly, it’s just heartwarming to see a player come from nowhere to establish himself as a first-team regular. That isn’t an easy thing to do, especially after a year of ups and downs on loan at Aberdeen.
Most importantly, he is really performing well. He’s earning his keep and contributing to defensive displays at a high level. It’s been a massive bonus for Celtic in a season where there have been injury concerns.
Even Brendan Rodgers has been taken aback. Last week the Bhoys boss said that Scales’ emergence was one of the biggest surprises of his long coaching career to date. The defender had looked on the brink of leaving.
Asked about those comments, Scales was quick to return the praise, stating [Sunday Post, 29/10 print edition]: “He said the same thing to me before he said it publicly. So, I knew about that.
“He has been brilliant with me. He probably just knows how to deal with me, just tells me to keep doing what I’m doing and not get too flustered or ahead of myself. It’s working. In general, I would say I am quite laid back and try to bring that onto the pitch.”
Liam Scales ‘learning a lot’ at Celtic training
Rodgers isn’t the only person helping Scales out. The Republic of Ireland international has also shared he is getting plenty of assistance from Cameron Carter-Vickers, too.
They’ve formed a productive defensive partnership and it’s blossoming at Lennoxtown training.
Scales continued: “He is a dream to play alongside. He has a bit of everything – he is quick, he is strong and good in the tackle. He is very good at defending the box, but he is brilliant on the ball, too.
“I am learning a lot from him. He has been very successful and is a massive player for the club. We can both be vocal towards each other when we need to be.
“We are getting to know each other’s game and thinking a little bit more alike in training sessions. In and around the training ground we will have a chat about different moments in games and how we can help each other out.”
Maik Nawrocki has now returned to fitness and is taking part in training. However, it’s hard to see Rodgers disrupting the Scales and Carter-Vickers partnership at this point, not without a drop-off in form.
Consistency is key in those positions and if the duo are happy working with each other and developing a rapport, that should be encouraged as tough as it is for Nawrocki. He will get an opportunity at some point but, for now, it’s only right to see where Scales and Carter-Vickers can take the Bhoys.
In other news, Luis Palma’s former boss thinks he has already been improved by Celtic.
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