Liam Scales has come in for universal praise after his performance in Celtic's 1-0 Old Firm victory over Rangers.
The Wicklow native was given the man of the match award by Sky Sports, after leading a strong defensive performance for Celtic in a game that was won by a Kyogo Furuhashi goal in first-half injury time.
Playing alongside summer signing Gustaf Lagerbielke in the centre of the back four, Scales completed 87% of his passes and made 10 clearances in an overall display that has left Celtic fans purring.
Scales has found opportunities hard to come by at Celtic since arriving from Shamrock Rovers two years ago, but injuries to a number of centre-halves has opened the door for him to show what he can do.
Chris Sutton, who was on Sky Sports commentary duty for the game, was one of those giving Scales the praise he deserved on social media afterwards, saying that the 25-year-old "barely put a foot wrong".
Well played Liam Scales. A lot of focus on the Celtic back line with key players out but so much to be admired about his performance. Barely put a foot wrong 👏👏🍀
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) September 3, 2023
Clean Sheet ✅
MOTM ✅
👏 Liam Scales 👏 pic.twitter.com/FzMAC1tpJh— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 3, 2023
Liam Scales, played so little for Celtic, thrown in at the deep end at Ibrox in the Glasgow Derby.
Rangers 0 - 1 Celtic
Man of the match performance. 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/Lp27lJr9hb— Irish Football Pics (@irish_pics) September 3, 2023
Liam Scales this first half: pic.twitter.com/EH873MIFi8
— Bricky🧱 (@Bricky67_) September 3, 2023
Liam Scales puts in dominant Old Firm performance
Scales has now played 90 minutes in back-to-back games, helping Celtic to clean sheets in both of those outings. Prior to a loan spell at Aberdeen last season, he had only appeared 13 time for the Hoops in all competitions.
While it would be premature to suggest he has risen up the pecking order after his performance on Sunday, Scales certainly did himself no harm with his dominant display.
"I'm taking it as it comes," he told Sky Sports afterwards. "Game by game. There has been a couple of injuries, that's what's given me the opportunity to get in and get this chance. I just have to keep taking it game by game and doing as well as I can while I'm in."
While Rangers fans are fuming over a disallowed goal, that won't matter at all to Scales and his clubmates, as they look down on their rivals from the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
If he manages to string a few more strong performances together, he could start think about an Ireland recall in time for the October internationals.
🗣️ "It's always a foul!"
Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales have their say on 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 disallowed Rangers goal and share their delight at sealing a 1-0 win at Ibrox 👇 pic.twitter.com/pymqeiXQVX— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 3, 2023
