Liam Scales’ transformation from looking like a certainty to leave Celtic last summer to playing a crucial role this season in both the league and Europe’s elite competition has caught the attention of many this season.
Feyenoord’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh shakes hands with Celtic’s Liam Scales after the match REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
Former Republic of Ireland international David McMillan and St Johnstone star has hailed Scales for his outstanding contributions to the Hoops.
Speaking on the RTE Soccer podcast, McMillan reflected on the earlier part of the season when Scales might have considered a move away from Celtic in search of more playing time.
No one would’ve thought that Liam Scales would be a starring player in the Champions League and become a regular in the Irish national squads up until a few months ago. But he got his chance, probably by luck more than anything, and has taken it with both hands, and shown how he’s a valuable player he is for the side.
David McMillan said: “I think Liam himself probably wanted out of Celtic in the summer to go and play football and didn’t expect to get games there with the competition there. He had obviously a good second half of the season with Aberdeen last year and injuries at Celtic have given him an opportunity to come in and he’s obviously impressed his manager.
“To be playing in those games in the Champions League it’s a phenomenal level to be playing at and it’s very rare that now, at the moment, to have any Irish player doing that as he’s the only one playing in the Champions League.
“It’s a brilliant story for any young League of Ireland player starting at the UCD like myself. And going on and did so well for Shamrock Rovers and then proving himself at the top level in the Scottish Premier League and in the Champions League an to get those first caps, it’s a real good story.”
