Liam Scales came up against former Celtic team-mate Giorgos Giakoumakis in an international clash on Friday evening.
The Hoops defender was making his debut for the Republic of Ireland in Dublin as his remarkable recent rise continued.
Scales was put in from the start by under-fire boss Stephen Kenny and had to go up directly against Giakoumakis who was leading the line for Greece.
The former Celtic forward had the upper hand on the evening as his side earned an important 2-0 win that keeps them in with a chance of qualifying for Euro 2024. Ireland, meanwhile, won’t be going to Germany next summer.
Giakoumakis even netted his side’s opening goal of the game, nodding in an emphatic header from a Konstantinos Tsimikas cross.
As is the case with many footballers nowadays, he took to his Instagram Stories after the game and shared a number of photos of videos of the moment. Sadly, for Scales, he is involved in every one. An unwelcome appearance for sure.
The Celtic defender had been the closest player to Giakoumakis when he rose to divert the ball into the net. It was a terrific header, and Scales must surely have known what was coming as the forward rose.
The pair spent one season together at Celtic Park — both joining at the start of the Ange Postecoglou revolution in 2021. Their fortunes differed during that campaign, with Giakoumakis eventually becoming a huge player in our momentous title win.
Scales, meanwhile, struggled for game time and spent last season on loan at Aberdeen. Now, however, he is very much a part of Brendan Rodgers’ plans.
Giakoumakis is playing in the MLS with Atlanta United which is a bit of a shame given what he offered us. But these things happen and there’s no ill-feeling there.
