Martin O’Neill has delivered a glowing verdict on Liam Scales after the Irish defender once again filled in at left-back for Celtic.
Scales started on the left side of the defence against St Mirren at The Marbill Coaches Stadium, with Kieran Tierney unavailable.
That ability to recover from a difficult moment summed up why O’Neill was so strong in his praise afterwards.
He said: (TCW), “I love Scales. I think he’s great. I think Scales is great.
“I think that last week he went and played left back. He’s a centre-half and yet we’re asking him almost to play like a wide left-hand side player at times.
“That he is not, but he has got a massive heart. He’s been brilliant. A couple of times I’ve been here, he’s been absolutely fantastic. Really, really fantastic.
“And I said to him the last game we played, I don’t know what the club would do without him.”
Scales has had to adapt to a role that does not naturally suit his game.
He is far more comfortable centrally, where his strengths are defending the box and attacking aerial balls, but injuries have forced Celtic to use him wider.
That changes the demands on him. He has to cover more ground, defend one-v-one situations in wider areas and offer some support going forward.
The goal against St Mirren was also a reminder of what he gives Celtic at set-pieces.
After a difficult first half, he attacked Nygren’s delivery with conviction and gave Celtic the platform to turn the game around.
O’Neill’s line about not knowing what Celtic would do without him is strong praise, but it reflects how useful Scales has become when the manager has needed someone to fill a gap.
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