Irish football manager Shane Keegan is astounded that Liam Scales didn’t play for his country against England on Saturday night.

The centre-half was left on the bench for the match, which Ireland eventually went on to lose by two goals to nil.

New boss Heimir Hallgrímsson didn’t give the 26-year-old any minutes against the English, and last night, versus Greece, Scales was kept on the bench in another 2-0 loss.

The defender will be frustrated at his lack of game time, much like Keegan.

The former Galway United boss finds it particularly nonsensical that Scales didn’t play on Saturday when the Euro 2024 finalists came to Dublin.

“Has Heimir Hallgrímsson, John O’Shea or anybody given any reasoning behind Liam Scales not starting the England game?,” Keegan asked (The 42).

“If you’re playing three at the back then the left-sided centre-half has to be left-footed.

“We’re not stuck for a left-footed player to play in that role at the moment. Liam Scales is flying.

“Ok, you can argue the merits of the level that he’s playing at, but he had just come out of the Rangers game where he had played extremely well.

“What could possibly suggest from what Liam Scales is doing at the moment that he wasn’t good enough to be in that starting 11 vs England?”

Although some Celtic fans regularly criticise him, Scales can count himself unfortunate that he wasn’t picked to play for his country during the international break.

He has started the season amicably and was strong defensively in the most recent Glasgow derby.

When he returns to his club this week, though, he will face competition for his jersey with Auston Trusty.

The American centre-half was brought in on deadline day for £6m.

Similarly to Scales, Trusty will return from international duty this week, fighting for a place in the ream.

Seeing who Brendan Rodgers favours out of the pair over the coming weeks should be interesting.