WING & A PLAYER

Versatile Scales on his previous as he prepares to fill Taylor’s

BY

LIAM SCALES is unlikely to bat an eyelid if he’s asked to slot in at left-back with Greg Taylor laid up.

Just as long as Brendan Rodgers doesn’t ask the Irishman to play on the wing.

Scales has gone from bit part player to one of the first names on the teamsheet and could be pencilled in for another role against Ross County today.

The 25-year-old can easily slide across to the full-back position having played there in the past.

And Scales revealed he’s got experience elsewhere – having been a winger who worshipped Irish legend Damien Duff as a kid.

He said: “I wasn’t always a centre-half. As a kid I played higher up the pitch in centre midfield or the wing.

“I wasn’t a bad winger – until I got to about 12 and shot up! I got lanky and lost my pace so I dropped back. When I was a kid I would have looked at Damien who was a left-footer on the wing.

“I wasn’t one for coming inside, it was beat a man and get the ball across. But once I took that stretch I had to adapt. I then went to centre mid, eventually left-back. I’ve mainly been left-back or centre-back in the senior game though. I’m quite happy where I am. If I was still a winger I don’t think I’d be at Celtic!”

Scales might not be comfortable on the wing but has shown he’s more than at home on the ball, with Rodgers always keen on his centre-backs stepping into midfield.

He said: “It depends on who we play against. If teams sit off then the centre-backs have a lot of the ball and if I can step into the game it might provoke a press and create some space for a midfielder.

“I do have license to do that. I love defending my box but I also enjoy being on the ball. A lot of the times at Celtic you are high in their half and it’s part of the game I’ve worked on.”

Scales is content in his

surroundings now and he’s not getting restless over the new contract talks.

He said: “The word I’d use is settled. Last time I was unsure about what would happen but things have gone well and I am really happy here. I can focus on my football.

“I do feel more established now. It took a couple of months to feel like that but I’ve probably played almost 30 games so far this season.

“It’s been consistent but I know football is a mad game and things can change so you don’t want to get too comfortable.

“There’s no update contract wise but if there are any updates it’ll be through my agent. I just focus on the football. I’m relaxed. I’ve been at other clubs when that stuff has affected my game so I’ve put it to the back of my head.

“We are ready to kick on now. There were a couple of negatives in the first half of the season.

“We looked at all of that and realised there’s room to improve in the second half of the season.

“Setting challenges is a big part of what the manager does and he’s very good at it.”