Liam Scales has been a curious case at Celtic—once viewed as a mere stopgap, now firmly entrenched in the heart of the defence. When Brendan Rodgers returned for his second spell, Scales’ future at Parkhead appeared all but written. He was on the brink of a move to Aberdeen, a club where he’d have likely been appreciated but never expected to shine in the way a Celtic player is demanded to.
But fate, as it often does in football, had other ideas. Injuries to key defenders left Rodgers with little choice but to turn to the Irishman. Over a year later, Scales has done more than fill a gap—he’s earned his place in the starting XI, time and time again.
And yet, the praise that comes his way often feels patronising. Even after standout performances, it’s delivered with a note of surprise, as if Scales’ competency is a happy accident rather than the result of hard work and natural talent. “Well, we didn’t expect that from you” feels like the underlying sentiment, even after he’s been named man of the match in Champions League fixtures. It’s as if some fans are still waiting for the bubble to burst, still anchored to the early perception of him as not quite good enough for Celtic.
But let’s talk facts. Scales played a pivotal role in a team that refused to lose to Rangers last season—four wins and a draw for the man at the back in the high-pressure cauldron of a Glasgow derby. He’s collected not one but two Champions League man-of-the-match accolades, spread across different campaigns.
These are not flukes. These are the markers of a player who has grown under Rodgers’ stewardship, improving his game in ways few thought possible when he was first linked with a move away.
Yet, here we are, with Scales still under scrutiny, even as he solidifies his place in Celtic’s first-choice centre-back pairing. It’s a familiar story for Celtic fans—Carl Starfelt, the man Scales replaced, suffered a similar fate. Starfelt was brilliant for the Hoops, but his early wobbles, like the infamous own goal at Tynecastle, tainted the way a portion of the fanbase viewed him throughout his time at the club. Scales, for all his achievements, is still treated with the same cautious appraisal.
Auston Trusty has been brought in as competition, but right now, the shirt is Scales’ to lose. He’s earned the right to be considered the first choice, not a placeholder. And it’s about time he received the respect that comes with it. What more does he need to do to convince some doubters? At this moment in time, Liam Scales is not only good enough for Celtic—he’s thriving.
