I’M SO POTY OVER LIAM
Mulgrew tips in-form Irishman for top gong
CHARLIE MULGREW believes Liam Scales has shown form worthy of a potential Player of the Year contender.
And, as the defender closes in on a new contract extension at Celtic, the former Parkhead ace says Scales deserves huge credit for grabbing his unexpected opportunity and subsequently winning the total trust of boss Brendan Rodgers.
The Irishman’s outstanding work this season has been one of the success stories of the campaign so far in Glasgow’s East End.
Scales, 25, has transformed himself from an emergency option due to an autumn injury crisis into a key member of the squad in the space of five months.
His brilliant efforts have seen Rodgers make him a regular starter at home and in the Champions League and a new deal is now in the offing with talks long under way between club and advisors. The manager has revealed agreement is set 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 this season 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. 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.”
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, he 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.
Mulgrew, who had two spells with the champions after working up through the youth system, knows it is a tough task to get the chances and stay in the set-up.
He added: “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, 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.
“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 won him a full debut for the Republic of Ireland during his whirlwind spell.
Mulgrew continued: “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 Celtic have centrehalves 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.”