Right place, right time.
That’s how Charlie Mulgrew found himself as a Celtic mainstay back in 2010 – and it’s how Liam Scales has currently become a first pick under Brendan Rodgers.
The Irishman, 25, forced himself into the champions’ starting XI earlier this season due to injuries sustained by Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh, Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke. Looking back at the level of his performances though, it’s hard to see why he wasn’t a first-team regular anyway.
Scales has grasped his opportunity with both hands and if he maintains his form could genuinely be within a shout of the Premiership’s team of the season come May. He will certainly be in contention for Celtic’s own Player of the Year awards.
It was well-documented after his breakthrough that Scales was meant to sign permanently for Aberdeen during the summer. This was off the back of a season-long loan in the campaign prior.
Not only is he a left-sided centre-back who is comfortable on the ball and has a reasonable turn of pace, he’s also followed Mulgrew in the footsteps of playing for Aberdeen and then back to Celtic. He is confident Scales will manage to kick on further in a Hoops jersey.
“I have said it before in interviews that, in the way he plays, left-sided centre-half and the way he got into the team and all of that, it reminds me a little bit of my time there and it is good to see it,” the 37-year-old admitted.
“Sometimes, it can take an injury here or there. Or if you are a bit lower down in the pecking order, you need to wait for that chance.
“Liam has done that and maybe it was unexpected. It did look as though he might be going out on loan, maybe to Aberdeen or someone. But he’s managed to hang in there, get his chance and take it with both hands.
“Fair play to him, he’s been one of Celtic’s best players this season and taking those chances when they came along are what football is all about.
“It’s hard biding your time, but you just have to keep training away and hope that opportunity comes. As I said, it can maybe take an injury or something.
“You need to keep working at it in training when maybe you have not been in squads, or have been on the bench, or maybe it looks like the club wants you to go on loan.
“Sometimes you need that to get that wee break, but then also you need to have the mental strength when it comes around to go on and step up and take it.
“It’s all about results as well, obviously. If the team is not picking up results, it’s automatic when you have just come into the team that people look at you.
“He’s kept clean sheets, he did well against Rangers at Ibrox in one of his first big games. What a big test for him and he’s done well.”
Rodgers recently revealed that a new contract for the Republic of Ireland international could be close to being signed. His current deal expires at the end of this season having joined in 2021 as one of Ange Postecoglou’s first signings.
It’s expected that by signing new terms, Celtic will tie down Scales’ long-term future in the east end of Glasgow.
Asked about the prospect of Scales extending his time at the club, Mulgrew added: “That’s good to hear. He’s a good player who has done well for Celtic this season and is possibly one of the Players of the Year.
“He’s been a big surprise for everybody, but has really taken his chance when it has come his way.
“He’s got all the attributes. He’s composed on the ball and that’s important with the way that Celtic want to play.
“It’s important that Celtic have centre-halves who are good on the ball with that composure and he also defends well.
“He seems to sense danger well, seems to just sniff it out and heads the ball when it comes into his box.
“It sounds pretty basic, but he has the attributes you need to be a defender at Celtic.”
When Mulgrew re-joined Celtic 14 years ago, it was Neil Lennon’s backing that gave him the belief required that this time he was ready to fulfill his potential as a Celtic player.
Of course, the former Scotland international played under Rodgers for a short while during his first spell at the club in 2016, so he’s well aware of the demands the 50-year-old puts on his players and squad members.
Mulgrew insists it’s a massive feather in Scales’ cap that he’s managed to come in from out of the blue to earn the ex-Liverpool manager’s trust so swiftly after Rodgers admitted to not knowing much about the defender’s capabilities when he returned to the club in the summer.
“It’s good to have that [backing], but it is also credit to Liam that he has gained the trust of a manager,” Mulgrew added. “When you gain the trust of a manager, he feels confident to pick you and he will pick you.
“Liam must be one of the first names on the teamsheet now and he has really stepped up with the injuries to centre-halves such as Cameron Carter-Vickers.
“He has really stepped up for Celtic and he is possibly one of the Players of the Year, so far.”
Mulgrew was speaking yesterday at Stephen Dobbie’s Queen of the South testimonial match.
