The Celtic Star
·11 October 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsThe Celtic Star
·11 October 2024
Liam Scales scores Celtic’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and SK Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Congratulations to Liam Scales who scored his first ever international goal in Ireland’s 2-1 win over Finland in Helsinki last night.
The Celtic centre back scored his nation’s equaliser and yet again didn’t look out of place on the big stage. That is testament to not only his ability, but his mental strength as he continues to show how far he has come in the past year or so.
Liam Scales during the UEFA Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
When Brendan Rodgers arrived back at Celtic last summer, Liam was seen as being surplus to requirements after spending the previous season on loan at Aberdeen. And the then Dons manager Barry Robson was desperate to sign Scales with a fee of £500,000 being reported.
The signings of Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke seemed to suggest that the Irishman was on his way out the door, and there probably wasn’t a Celtic supporter who would have shed too many tears over his departure.
But the football gods work in mysterious ways and due to injuries, Brendan gave Liam his chance and he hasn’t looked back since. Brendan was also wise enough to know that the arrivals were unknown to him and had to prove themselves before he could rely on them on an ongoing basis.
Mid-Season Friendly, Showgrounds, Sligo 9/10/2024 Sligo Rovers vs Celtic. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers 9/10/2024. Photo: INPHO/Tom Maher
Maik Nawrocki doesn’t look like he’s in Brendan’s plans, and Gustaf Lagerbielke has been shipped out on loan to Dutch side FC Twente, whose women’s team were in Hamilton this week to play Celtic FC Women in the group stages of the Champions League.
Even new £6 million summer signing Auston Trusty has a battle on his hands for that left hand slot in the centre of the defence once CCV is back to full fitness because in order to start he’s going to have to get himself ahead of Liam Scales. As things stand that is unlikely to say the least.
Liam still has his critics and full disclosure, I have been one of them, but we’ve got to applaud how he’s grown as a player and a person in the past year, and that has reflected on his performances on the pitch and not just domestically.
UEFA Nations League Group B2, Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland 10/10/2024 Finland vs Republic of Ireland. Celtic’s Liam Scales heads the ball in to score. 10/10/2024. Photo INPHO/Ryan Byrne
He’s not looked out of place on the biggest stage of all in the Champions League, and now he’s starting to do it on the international front. His place in the Celtic side is now his to lose. That’s of great credit not just to Liam, but also Brendan Rodgers who’s shown once again he has a magical touch when it comes to improving hard working players.
Celtic in the Thirties – Volume One
Celtic in the Thirties – Volume Two
Matt Corr of this parish and a well-known figure at Celtic Park as a member of the Celtic Tour Guide squad, has worked for three years researching and writing his new book Celtic in the Thirties, which appears in two volumes and is proudly published by Celtic Star Books in a few weeks time. It was a decade of incredible triumphs for Celtic but also heart-breaking tragedies and this is the long overdue authoritative history of that turbulent and under reported decade in Celtic history.
Celtic in the Thirties is available to pre-order now and there’s a Q&A with Matt Corr which you can read below.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!
More Stories / Latest News