Brendan Rodgers has come to the defence of Celtic defender Liam Scales, praising his significant contributions despite not always receiving the acclaim he deserves.

Following Celtic’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Rangers, where the team extended their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season, Rodgers highlighted the indispensable role of players like Scales.

In a post-match discussion, Rodgers lauded Scales for his resilience and consistency on the field, telling the BBC:  “He had a fantastic season last season, and sometimes the guys that come in that are either Scottish or from Ireland, they might not feel to be the sexiest of players; we might not have signed them for a lot of money, but these guys… I don’t know where we would have been without Liam Scales last year.

“His robustness; he plays games, he hardly ever gets injured, and again, he stood up today.

Liam Scales was Superb in the Glasgow Derby

This praise is particularly noteworthy as Scales was pivotal in ensuring Celtic’s defence remained impenetrable during the derby, successfully winning all his duels, making key clearances, blocking shots, and executing critical interceptions throughout the game.

He’s been part of the defence that’s yet to concede a goal this season.

The Irishman may not be the best on the ball, but you can’t fault his defending

He stepped into the backline when Celtic needed him most last season with his performances keeping the likes of Nawrocki, Lagerbielke and Welsh unable to get in ahead of the Irishman.

Credit where credit is due, but Celtic have been looking to upgrade on the defender, bringing in Auston Trusty on deadline day. After splashing out with a big fee, you’d expect him to take over the starting role, but Scales’ contributions must be forgotten.