Competition for places is always necessary at a club like Celtic and usually enhances the overall level of performance seen on the pitch week after week.
Brendan Rodgers has always been a keen believer in having two players fight for every position, and that has been abundantly clear over his two separate spells in charge.
Last season, Liam Scales shot onto the scene with little warning. Drafted in during an injury crisis in central defence, the Irishman put on a stormer of a performance at Ibrox as Celtic emerged victorious in September 2023.
In the weeks to come, Rodgers would refer to Scales as ‘one of the biggest surprises’ he has encountered during his managerial career, a testament to his character as he forced his way in from the periphery.
Now with 63 appearances under his belt in green and white, the Republic of Ireland international signed a new four-year deal in May that keeps him at the club until 2028. He is also undisputed first-choice in the backline alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, but will things remain that way?
Auston Trusty’s arrival will put pressure on Scales to deliver
On transfer deadline day, Celtic brought in Auston Trusty from Sheffield United, ending their window-long search for a left-sided central defender.
Arriving for £6 million, the United States international carries Premier League experience and an exciting pedigree behind him due to spending time on the books at Arsenal.
Taking the number six jersey, Trusty won’t be coming to Celtic to sit on the bench. With Champions League football a likely selling point behind his move, you can’t imagine he will be content playing second fiddle once the fixture list starts to intensify.
So where does that leave Scales? Does he have the shirt for now until a lapse of form or, touch wood it doesn’t happen, an injury scenario were to occur, or is Trusty set to usurp his positional rival now that he is settled in.
Looking at the Bhoys’ dominant victory over Rangers before the international break, it would be hard to drop the former based on current performances.
Liam Scales and his positive start for Celtic
Celtic have kept four clean sheets in five matches this season, with a quartet of consecutive shutouts on league duty falling their way.
In part, credit has to go to Kasper Schmeichel, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor for their roles. Nevertheless, Scales deserves immense credit for helping to build a solid nucleus in defence.
Against Rangers before the internationals, the Irishman completed 11 defensive actions in total, alongside maintaining 100% success rates in ground duels and tackles won. He also threaded six passes into the final third, showing a desire to build attacks from deep [Fotmob].
With Trusty through the door, he faces a fight to retain his position. Can Scales manage to see off his American counterpart? Stay tuned to find out.
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