NEW Bhoy Liam Scales reckons Celtic have got three players for the price of one.
The skilful 23-year-old defender sealed his £500,000 arrival from Shamrock Rovers last week, as CQN reported.
Scales joined in the midst of transfer frenzy as manager Ange Postecoglou prepared for the midnight deadline on Monday – just a day after the derby at Ibrox.
The player was forced to take a back seat as the focused centred on incoming signings such as Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, Portuguse winger Filipe Jota and England-born US international stopper Cameron Carter-Vickers while headline acts Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie joined Kristoffer Ajer across the border.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Liam Scales proudly poses at Lennoxtown.
Life is now calming down a bit at the club and the manager has some much-needed breathing space during the international break with the next Premiership game against Ross County in the east end of Glasgow not due until a week on Saturday.
Scales is delighted to be living the dream and is prepared to make a full-tilt assault on achieving a first-team place at the Hoops – and he doesn’t care where the boss elects to play him.
The 6ft-plus back-four operator said: “Over the years, I’ve played in plenty of positions. I suppose when I was younger I was a left-sided midfielder and I kind of dropped back.
“Then I played mainly as a centre-back and I played a bit of left-back there, as well, and in my first season at Shamrock Rovers I played centre-back. But with injuries to players this season I was put out left and I did quite well.
“So, I suppose I’m a versatile left-sided defender and I can play anywhere between the three positions – centre-back, left wing-back, left-back – as long as I’m playing, I’m happy.”
ALL SMILES…Liam Scales takes a break from training for interview.
WELCOME…John Kennedy greets Liam Scales on the training ground.
DOWN TO WORK…Liam Scales and Albian Ajeti in training ground routine. Images courtesy Celtic TV.
Reflecting on his move to the east end of Glasgow, Scales, speaking to the club website, said: “It’s the stuff of dreams for any Irish boy – it’s Celtic. It’s a top club and as a kid if you’re growing up in Ireland, and someone asked you as a 12 or 13-year-old: ‘Who do want to play for?’ it’s always been Celtic and whatever club you support.
“Obviously, there’s the Irish connection and I have friends and family who are Celtic supporters, so it’s a really proud moment.
“I played for my local team, Arklow Town up until I was about 16 and I moved to UCD where I developed. I was there for three years under Collie O’Neill, he was great for me and then I moved on to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght.
“I suppose I just kicked on and I won a league there with Rovers. It was an unbelievable 18 months for me as I developed an awful lot there and here I am.”
Scales added: “It’s been unbelievable so far – the facilities, the training ground, the people, it’s great and it’s great to be here finally and I’m just looking forward to getting to work and getting going now.
“Obviously, there’s a new manager and loads of new players brought in, so it’s a great time for Celtic and I’m just delighted to be a part of it. I can’t wait to kick on and try to get into the team – it’s a big season.
“It’s high-intensity and they have a lot of possession with the full-backs coming inside to midfield. It’ll take some time to get used to the system, but I’m already working on it now and I’ve been watching the games.
“It’s a massive step up, I know that myself and I know I’m going to have to be on it to make that step, but I’m more than ready. I’m really happy to be here and to be able to show that I can do it at this level.”
