IT wasn’t so long ago that Liam Scales was set to leave Celtic permanently for Aberdeen and few appeared to sad to see the back of him.
But fast forward a few seasons and the big Irishman has emerged as the Hoops’ most reliable player.
Not only that but now he’s fresh from a key role at LEFT WING BACK as Ireland kept their World Cup hopes alive with a 2-0 humbling of Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Portugal in the Aviva Stadium.
If the red card which Ronaldo saw, for lashing out with an elbow, on Dara O’Shea was the moment the former Man Utd and Real Madrid superstar saw rock bottom, Scales’ crowning moment was the far post run and clever header which led to Troy Parrott‘s opener on the night.
The striker is playing his best stuff at AZ Alkmaar and he soon had a second before the first half was out as Ireland piled on the agony for this Portuguese outfit.
And fans were loving Scales’ contribution to the cause.
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One wrote: “How good was Liam Scales tonight, been calling for him to be starting for the last year, absolute beast – out of position too”
A second wrote simply: “Liam Scales, what a bhoy.”
A third wrote: “Roberto Martinez losing to a team with Liam Scales at wing back.”
A fourth said: “Great assist Liam Scales.”
The result keeps the Irish going with a fighting chance of securing a World Cup playoff place against Hungary in Budapest in the final matchday.
It was Ronaldo’s first EVER dismissal in international football.
The Portugal captain’s card was upgraded after VAR advised referee Glenn Nyberg to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
On the goal, hero Parrott hailed the Celtic man for the precision of his header, saying: “It is something we worked on. Scales headed the ball where it needed to go. I am buzzing with it.”
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