Alan Hutton has thrown his support behind Liam Scales and tipped Auston Trusty to be the man to make way for CCV , asserting that the defender has silenced his critics and remains Celtic’s top centre-back option—even with Cameron Carter-Vickers back in the fold and Auston Trusty impressing. With Celtic facing a packed schedule, Hutton believes Scales’ performances have been strong enough to keep him as a mainstay in Brendan Rodgers’ backline.
Despite a number of questions surrounding Scales’ place in the squad, the Irishman has shown resilience, growing in confidence and consistency. Reflecting on Scales’ trajectory, Hutton noted on the Scottish football social club, “What he has done. He has been there for a long period of time now, playing. I think he is getting better with every single game.” Scales’ journey hasn’t been without its challenges, but he’s continually proved doubters wrong and developed into a reliable presence for Celtic.
With Carter-Vickers returning from injury and Trusty putting in strong performances when called upon, Rodgers faces a decision on his centre-back pairing. Hutton, however, expects the Celtic manager to keep faith in the Carter-Vickers and Scales partnership, particularly given the chemistry they’ve built over recent games. “I think he will keep him (Carter-Vickers) with Scales, at this moment in time,” Hutton stated.
This consistency may be exactly what Celtic need as they navigate a testing stretch of fixtures. After Dundee on Wednesday, the Bhoys are preparing for a high-stakes semi-final clash with Aberdeen, followed by a crucial Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig. While it’s likely Rodgers may rotate his squad to keep players fresh, stability in the centre-back positions could be key for Celtic’s success across all competitions.
Hutton acknowledged the past scepticism about Scales, saying, “The question mark was always there. People were saying ‘they probably need another centre-half to come in’. I think he has answered all those questions. Stood up to it and just become better week on week.”
If Scales keeps up this form, his status as one of Celtic’s top defensive options seems firmly within his grasp, and fans will no doubt be eager to see if he retains his place for Wednesday’s game.
