Scales tipping in favour of emerging Ireland defender

Overlooked at renowned Dublin schoolboy club, St Joseph's, Liam Scales found himself playing senior football at the age of 16 with local side Arklow Town.

The young defender would step up another level in the men’s game soon after, as he tasted League of Ireland action with UCD before moving on to help Shamrock Rovers win the league in 2020 and 2021.

A move from the Students to Bristol Rovers fell through, but two seasons in Tallaght were enough to attract interest from across the Irish Sea once more as fellow green and white Hoops, Celtic, came knocking, signing the defender on a four-year contract.

Scales struggled to make an immediate impact at the Glasgow club, registering just five appearances for the Bhoys in his first season, which resulted in a loan move to fellow Scottish Premiership side, Aberdeen, where Scales established himself in the first team and proved that he was more than capable at operating at that level.

Back at Celtic for pre-season training earlier this summer, Scales was expecting to go back to Aberdeen, however, his fortunes changed for the better at Parkhead as new manager Brendan Rodgers called on him to cover a defensive injury crisis.

And the 25-year-old Wicklow man has not looked back, as he has gone on to establish himself in the league leaders' starting XI, while also impressing in certain Champions League games this season for the Celts.

As a result, Ireland manager Stephen Kenny felt confident to hand Scales his senior debut against Greece in October, and while it was a losing start for the versatile defender, he maintained his place for the away win against Gibraltar, where he impressed on the left side of the central defensive unit.

"It’s been great," said Scales, speaking at Tuesday’s press