Liam Scales looks like Celtic’s most valuable centre back

Many in the Celtic support, myself included, have often stated that Liam Scales is essentially a decent squad player at Celtic and should not be regarded as a first pick starter when the manager has a full complement of centre-backs to choose from.

Indeed many supporters would not have shed a tear had he been sold over numerous transfer dating back to when his loan spell at Aberdeen ended and the Pittodrie side were desperate to sign the Irishman on a permanent deal. It looked like that would happen but returning manager Brendan Rodgers was reluctant to sanction the deal due to injuries that summer and Scales ended up establishing himself in the Celtic team.

And it has to be said that he currently looks like our most valuable asset in the centre of defence. That is quite a turn-around as Scales certainly has silenced most of his critics, myself included.

Cameron Carter Vickers of course is a sublime talent and has been our ‘Big Strong Man’ at the back for the the past five years, but even the American international looks a little off it so far this season, and Liam looks every inch the more dominant and assured man at the heart of the Celtic defence.

Liam who unfortunately had to withdraw from the recent Republic of Ireland international squad due to a family bereavement,  hasn’t put a foot wrong thus far in the campaign, maybe the odd slack pass or two, but at this moment in time he fills me with more confidence than CCV, a sentence I never ever thought I would string together on The Celtic Star!

The thing that maybe let’s Liam down is his ability on the ball, but he’s been a rock since the opening day of the season. He wins just about everything in the air, like Ibrox in late August when the Rangers decided to lump every ball into the box at every given opportunity, but Liam dealt with absolutely everything they had to offer. Whilst his timing of a challenge is also spot on, his last ditch tackle at home to Motherwell last week a perfect example.

Liam has been a target of criticism for so long, but he’s made of strong stuff as his regular starting spot suggests, and he’s not there because we have no other option, he’s there fully on merit and I think we can all admit he’s been our best centre back by a distance this season so far.

Auston Trusty is a decent player. Celtic paid £7m for him and there’s been criticism of the manager because he was one of the big signings who can’t get a start. Well in his case a) he’d been carrying an injury, b) he eventually had to miss games to recover his fitness and c) Liam Scales has the jersey on merit so retains his place.

Should Scales pick up an injury or lose form then Trusty will step in. Remember, the American excelled for Celtic in the Champions League last season especially away to Atalanta has will have to wait for his chance to back into the starting XI, due to Liam Scales making himself the first pick left sided centre back. And fair play to him for managing to probe his doubters – including myself – wrong.