Liam Scales

Even if we buy a new CB I don't see Scales going. Given we've sold or loaned the 2 players who where supposed to be the upgrade and Trusty our latest attempt is arguably worse I don't see him not being part of our squad for a few more years.

No argument on getting an upgrade though. Just we don't appear to be able to do that.

 

A shattered jaw bone left Liam Scales eating through a straw at one stage last season.



But the Celtic defender insists he can’t wait to sink his teeth into the challenge of staying in the Hoops starting lineup this coming season.



Scales spent most of last term sharing the left side centre back role with Auston Trusty but the Irishman refused to be bumped out of the side and he revealed he even managed to see out a game at St Mirren after breaking his jaw.



The injury eventually cost him six weeks of his season, but the 26-year-old battled back to regain his place in the side for the run-in – including a spot in the Scottish Cup Final starting XI.

Scales has become something of an unsung hero for Celts and it might have gone unnoticed by some that he’s always willing to bite down and smash through the pain barrier


He said: “It was alright! It was the first time I’d had that type of injury.

“Once I had the operation I had a week on liquids and then another week where I could only eat soft foods.

“I was basically eating soup through a straw for that first week! I lost quite a bit of weight but it didn’t take me long to put it back on – I like my food! But it’s all sorted now



I have a couple of plates in there so it’s probably stronger now than it was before.

“It happened against St Mirren. I made a tackle and there was a collision with me being hit in the side of the face by his shoulder.

“I actually gave away a foul and they scored from the free-kick. But thankfully we ended up winning 5-2.


It kept me out for four or five weeks which wasn’t great.

“I’d only ever broken my nose or had some black eyes down the years but this was the first time I’d hurt the jaw.

“It’s okay now, though. It’s part of the game, especially in Scotland where it’s quite physical.


“I was just happy it wasn’t an injury below the waist. It’s not going to affect me longer, so it’s all good.”

Scales could have slotted in as more of a back up after the arrival of £6m signing Auston Trusty last summer – but instead he rose to the challenge.

More often than not, it was the Republic of Ireland man who got the nod to partner Cameron Carter-Vickers but he admitted sometimes you need to suck it up when you are out of the Celtic side.


He said: “Overall, I think I was happy with it. I played over 40 games all in and that included a spell out after I broke my jaw.

“If I look at it that way, I didn’t miss much football.


Look, you do want to start every game and there were times when I didn’t and that was disappointing. That’s just football, though.

“Overall, it was a successful season for us and it was good to be part of that. I felt I played my part.

“When you’re not paying, you just need to suck it up.


He is a brilliant manager and he has his reasons so you can’t argue with that. You just need to accept it and hope that you can get back in.

“But there were times when I played alongside Auston and other times it was Cameron. The three of us played a similar amount of minutes.

“Maybe I didn’t play as much but I felt all three of us worked well together given the fact two played and one didn’t


It wasn’t too bad to be on the sidelines because I didn’t spend long there. I was back in after a couple of weeks and it was good.

“The thing is, with the amount of games we have with the Premiership and Champions League – and we go the distance in the cup competitions, which we did – it amounts to around 60 games in a season.

“That means there are so many opportunities to play and everyone realises that.

When you are on the side, you just have to be patient and ready to go in when called upon, because you will be as it’s so hectic.”


Scales doesn’t take his role for granted as he is well aware there’s always a fight for places at Parkhead.


He’s ready to battle it out with Carter-Vickers and Trusty again in the coming weeks – and there’s also Hayato Inamura who has come in and impressed during pre-season.

But Scales said: “It’s a big club so you expect them to sign a player almost for each position every summer.

“That’s just part of it. That’s how it’s been for the last few years so I wouldn’t be thinking about that at all.


I’m focusing more on getting sharp and fit and ready to fight for that jersey for that first game of the season.”

Scales was given an extra week off after international duty but he’s back in business and ready to get wired in to the new campaign.

He said: “I can’t wait. All the training we’re doing is leading into that first day. We want to start the way we finished the league last season.


We want to win the league again, that’s the goal.

“We also have that big Champions League qualifier ahead of us too and it’s massive for us to play in that competition.

“We’re already really focused on that. I feel we have so much to look forward to and we’re all eager to get started.”

 

We spend 6M on Trusty-and then realize he is no better than Scales.
I hope Trusty is sold and we keep Scales as a back up/squad filler.

 

The criticism scales gets is unreal. Guy is perfect for the squad as he is no drama, low wage and has a great attitude.
Statistically, he has always been one of our better defenders since getting into the side.

If we could get at least half the money back on Trusty, I’d let him go and try and find a partner for CCV.

 

Shame he likes passing the ball to the opposition in his own half though.

 

He's been lucky with some of the fouls he should've given away in big games too.

 

Scales top 3 pass recipients: 1) The opposition 2) The crowd 3) Kasper Schmeichel

 

The criticism isn’t really personal though, more just pointing out his clear and obvious limitations, which I’m sure he’s aware of himself.

The criticism is more on the club for not replacing him. With the greatest of the respect to him, he should not be the starting centre back for a club with our resources.

 

True, he tried his best to give the huns a pen in the semi final of the cup.

 

This is true tbf. No the boys fault he keeps getting selected. He's not gonna turn it down.

 

He's unfortunate in the fact he is played often as the starter CB and he clearly is not good enough for that, hence fan frustration and desire to move him on.
However, you are perfectly correct. In a properly staffed backline, there is nothing wrong with Scales being one of the 4 CB in a rotation/backup.
But we would need to sign 2 other CB and get rid of most other deadwood for that to be the case. CCV+2+Scales+A Youth - would be ideal.

 

Bossed that 60 minutes.
Rodgers has always reverted back to him and CCV always seems to trust him with playing the ball out of defence.
For a player that cost us a pittance, he has done remarkably well. I don’t think there has been a better CB pairing since CCV and Strafeldt

 

He was outstanding. No doubt about it..

 

Excellent tonight. Positioning, interceptions and especially forward passing all on-point. He'll have his off days but fresh and focused he's a very good player.

 

That was a very, very impressive performance.

 

As good as anyone else on the pitch, was between him, Murray and Nygren if there was a MOTM in my opinion.

 

All makes sense now....

 

Looked very good against Sporting. Definitely in the team ahead of Trusty for me still. Personally if we were able to get the same we paid for Trusty I would say we sell him and look for a new left sided center back. Scales would be the one I would rather keep of those 2.