Liam Scales ready for Celtic left back stint as star reveals which Irish legend gave him wing inspiration

Liam Scales is unlikely to bat an eyelid if he’s asked to slot in at left back for Celtic in the next few weeks 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 team sheet this season and he could be penciled 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 even got experience elsewhere on the pitch – having been a winger who worshiped Irish legend Damien Duff as a kid. The former Aberdeen loan star 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 Duff – 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 and 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 on the more but he’s shown he’s more than comfortable on the ball, with Rodgers always keen on his centre backs stepping into midfield. The defender 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 obviously love defending my box but