By Alan Hutton

12th Oct, 2023 | 7:00am

Hutton hails 'outstanding' Liam Scales as new Celtic details emerge

Liam Scales’ “outstanding” performances have made him first choice centre-back at Celtic.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has been hugely impressed by Scales who could have been on his way out of the club in the summer.

Brendan Rodgers has had to deal with a lengthy injury list since his return to Parkhead and the centre of defence has been an area of concern.

Last season’s star man Cameron Carter-Vickers has been on the treatment table alongside Stephen Welsh, Yuki Kobayashi and new signings Maik Nawrocki and Nat Phillips.

Scales, who spent last season on loan at Aberdeen, has been filling the void left by Carter-Vickers and started alongside the former Tottenham defender against Kilmarnock at the weekend.

Speaking to BBC Sportsound after the game (8 October), Rodgers hailed Scales as “one of the biggest surprises” of his career as a manager.

Hutton insisted Rodgers comments were huge praise for a player who looked to be on the fringes only a few months ago.

“You look at the players that they brought in, they were basically saying that they needed reinforcements at centre-back even though he was already there,” he told Football Insider.

“The writing was on the wall for him but there have been a couple of injuries, he has been thrown in and he has taken on the challenge and been outstanding.

“Fair play to him, he has obviously worked hard, listened to the manager and improved. At this moment in time it is between him and Carter-Vickers, I think it is the two of them as the pairing moving forward.“

In other news, winger wants to quit Celtic for good after talks with chiefs.