Few would have expected Celtic defender Liam Scales to be in the position he currently is 12 months ago.

After returning to Glasgow from a loan spell at Aberdeen last summer, there wasn’t much hope for the Irishman regarding a permanent future with the Hoops.

Due to several injuries and unavailabilities in the squad, though, Scales got his chance and with both hands, he grabbed it.

The centre-half started in the first Glasgow derby of 2023/24 at Ibrox and was Man of the Match. Since that vital 1-0 win, he has never looked back and has been a constant in Brendan Rodgers’ team.

Scales is trusted by the manager, but some fans proceed to have their reservations about him and his credentials.

Many believe that the 25-year-old is not Celtic starting quality and that he should be replaced in the first-choice eleven.

The player himself has faced criticism throughout the season gone by but has admitted that he’s learned to deal with it and use it as a motivator.

“Once you accept that’s the way it is, you know that you are constantly under scrutiny, (and) people (are) constantly looking for success”, he said (Irish Independent).

“And it’s a good way to be as it drives us as players, but once you accept that’s the way the fans are, sometimes you will get a bit of stick, but it doesn’t really affect you.

“At the start, it can be a bit daunting. Because I had the first season where I played a few times, I got to see it more with other players, so I knew from the start of this season that this is what it would be like and it didn’t affect me at all.”