Charlie Mulgrew believes Liam Scales has shown form worthy of a potential Player Of The Year contender. As the defender closes in on a new contract extension at Celtic, former Parkhead and Scotland ace Mulgrew says the Irishman deserves huge credit for grabbing his chance when it came and winning the total trust of boss Brendan Rodgers. Scales’ outstanding work this season has been one of the success stories of the campaign so far in Glasgow’s East End.
Rodgers has revealed that agreement is likely to be sealed “in due course” after the player’s terrific run of consistent performances. Mulgrew said: “That’s good to hear. He’s a good player who has done well for Celtic and is possibly one of the players of the year.
“He’s been a big surprise for everyone, but has really taken his chance when it has come his way. Sometimes, it can take an injury here or there. Or if you are a bit lower down in the pecking order, you need to wait for that chance.
“Liam has done that and maybe it was unexpected because it did look as though he might be going out on loan, maybe to Aberdeen. But he’s managed to hang in there, get his chance and take it with both hands. Fair play to him, he’s been one of Celtic’s best players this season and taking those chances when they came along are what football is all about.”
It’s a chance which seemed to have grown unlikely. Scales initially struggled to make the major breakthrough at Parkhead, having been signed from Shamrock Rovers at the beginning of the Ange Postecoglou reign. Unable to gain regular action for the Aussie boss, the Irishman headed to Aberdeen on loan last term.
With Celtic then splashing money on summer recruits such as Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke upon Rodgers’ return, Scales looked set for a second temporary spell at Pittodrie – but an injury crisis opened the door which Scales surged through. Mulgrew, who had two spells with the Hoops after working up through the youth system, knows it is a tough task to get the chances and stay in the set-up, with the club constantly on the hunt for new faces and big-money arrivals regularly entering the building.
Scales came through it and Mulgrew said: “It’s hard, but you just have to keep training away and hope that opportunity comes. As I said, it can maybe take an injury or something.
“You need to keep working at it when maybe you have not been in squads, or have been on the bench, or maybe it seems the club wants you to go on loan. Sometimes you need that to get that wee break, but then also you need to have the mental strength when it comes around to step up and take it.
“It’s all about results as well, obviously. If the team are not picking up results, it’s automatic when you have just come into the team that people look at you. He’s kept clean sheets, he did well against Rangers at Ibrox in one of his first big games. What a test for him and he’s done well.”
Scales’ efforts for Celtic have also won him recognition on the international scene with a full debut with Republic of Ireland also secured during his whirlwind spell. Mulgrew added: “He’s got all the attributes. He’s composed on the ball and that’s important with the way that Celtic want to play.
“It’s important that Celtic have centre-halves who are good on the ball with that composure and he also defends well. He seems to sense danger well, seems to sniff it out and heads the ball when it comes into his box. It sounds pretty basic when you say it, but that’s the attributes it takes to do well for Celtic.”
