Liam Scales will not rest on laurels after rapid Celtic rise

Celtic and Republic of Ireland defender Liam Scales is determined to improve in the second half of the season and not let his unexpected breakthrough go to waste.

The 25-year-old has become a regular starter for Celtic and the Boys in Green after taking full advantage of several injuries in central defence for Brendan Rodgers' side early in the season.

Scales looked set to leave Celtic in the summer following his loan spell at Aberdeen but he is set to make his 28th consecutive start when the champions host Ross County on Saturday as their cinch Premiership break comes to an end.

The former Shamrock Rovers player said: "It was nice to get a week off after the hectic schedule and I put football to the back of my mind a bit and relaxed.

"But there was a chance to reflect. Obviously I am happy with how it has gone personally for me. I didn't really foresee it going this well so it was nice to look back.

"And obviously there were times I could have done better as a player personally. I have looked at those moments as well and there is room to improve on those sort of things, and that's what I am here to do for the rest of the season.

"A half-season is not going to mean anything if I fall away in the second half of the season. That's where the big games are, the crunch games. Obviously every game is important here.

"But I have no intention to fall away and rest on what I have done so far."

Cameron Carter-Vickers returns to the squad against County following a hamstring problem but Maik Nawrocki has performed well in his absence after replacing the injured Stephen Welsh during Celtic's victory over Rangers.

The Poland Under-21 international suffered a hamstring injury in his third appearance for Celtic but quickly got up to speed.

Rodge