Liam Scales has seen a career resurgence in recent weeks at Celtic. From once being written off, cast aside, and not even being in consideration by fans and even the manager.
However, in the face of an injury crisis which has depleted the club’s current centre-back options, Scales has stepped up and made himself a dependable player, and his performance against Feyenoord has made that crystal clear.
Here are a few reasons why Liam Scales has found a new lease of life at Celtic, and why the centre-back position may be his to lose if he keeps his performance levels up.
Warrior mentality
Scales’ standout performances so far this season have come in high pressure games where the team’s back has been against the wall and they are expected to defend for their lives. At Ibrox, Scales and Lagerbielke were thrown together in a make-shift partnership and expectations were low.
However, in a situation where most players would have put in a nervous, error-strewn performance, the pair did the exact opposite as the lack of expectation almost seemed to galvanise the partnership, as well as the team.
Scales led the game for interceptions and clearances as well as leading the team for aerial duels won.
In a game where everything was going against the Irishman, he gave it his all and earned the respect and plaudits of fans and pundits alike, earning himself the player of the match award.
The ability to step up to the task when Celtic desperately needed someone to was a perfect demonstration of that warrior mentality.
More room to improve
With Nat Phillips most recently joining the injury list alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki, and with Gustaf Lagerbielke ruling himself out for the next UEFA Champions League fixture against Lazio with his red card in Rotterdam, Scales’ position in the squad for the next few weeks is secure.
This gives the 25-year-old even further opportunities to improve his game and weed out any deficiencies. He is still nowhere near the finished article, but his performance levels over the last few weeks have been consistently high and maintaining those levels will be key for his development in the future.
Proven himself in the Champions League
The big hurdle that Scales has overcome is that he has now proven himself in the Champions League with a good performance in Rotterdam despite the defeat.
It would have been easy to quickly dismiss his recent resurgence as just a few good games and nothing more than that, with poor performances in years gone by – away to Bodo/Glimt especially – still lingering in the back of fans’ minds.
However, those doubts were swiftly silenced with his display in the Nertherlands, proving that his form wasn’t just an anomaly, a one off, a flash in the pan.
With his performance levels showing no signs of slowing down, Scales could be the latest player to have been part of a comeback story at Parkhead. Will it be as long-standing as Anthony Ralston’s comeback? Only time will tell.
JAMES MCKENZIE // Follow James HERE
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