I am certain current Celtic star will be a brilliant manager – even if he doesn't believe it YET

Liam Scales won’t be getting stressed over Saturday’s Old Firm showdown after surviving his Ibrox baptism of fire and Antoine Griezmann running at him full pelt in the Champions League.

The Celtic defender has made impressive progress this season under Brendan Rodgers – emerging as one of he first names on the gaffer’s team sheet after looking to be on his way out last summer. Scales was launched in at the deep end against Rangers last September amid an early season injury crisis and played a major part in the Hoops securing the 1-0 win in Govan.

The Irishman has never looked back as he went on to establish himself as the main partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers – bagging a place in the PFA Scotland team of the year and a new four-year contract along the way. It’s been a heck of a ride over the past nine months but Scales admitted the Ibrox examination was make or break for his Celtic career. He said: “Yeah, 100 percent. I knew there was no hiding place. It was almost a turning point as it proved to people I was able.

“I believed I could go in and do well. I’ve always had that self belief. So it didn’t surprise me. But I know now how important it was for the team and the way the season has turned out for me. The Rangers game at Ibrox was a big chance for me to prove a point and prove I could handle it.

“The fact I was thrown in was a good thing. I didn’t have time to think about it, it was just about dealing with it and I came out in a good place. It definitely gave me a belief and a hunger for more games like that, because it was an unbelievable experience.”

The same goes for the Champions League. Scales has proved to be a cool customer but he admitted he really felt he could cut it with Celts when he was trying to