Liam Scales had admitted he was happy with the work Celtic put into their first pre-season match of the summer, with the Hoops settling for a 1-1 draw with League of Ireland side Shelbourne at Tolka Park on what was a hot Dublin evening…
The Irishman was glad to be back on home soil in familiar surroundings with his team, as Martin O’Neill took charge for the first time as permanent Celtic manager, following two highly successful interim spells last term.
Finishing top of the Scottish Premiership ahead of Derek McInnes’ bitter Hearts side and gaining a Scottish Cup from the unlikeliest of situations, meant the Board of Directors turned to Scales’ countryman once again this year.
O’Neill’s task will now be to improve the squad dramatically after a season that was marred with issues revolving around poor recruitment and communications with supporters.
Those issues still largely remain but Martin will have the unenviable job of trying to play peacemaker between the two sides, which those of a cynical disposition will argue is why Dermot Desmond decided to bring him back, to act as a conduit between himself and the fanbase – owing to the principal shareholder’s clear disdain for the average Celt these days.
Photo Lorraine O’Sullivan Shutterstock/ IMAGO
Following our 1-1 draw with Shelbourne though, Scales revealed he was glad to be back home and get a good 90 minutes in against a tricky opponent. “I’ve played here a lot, you know, when I was playing in the League of Ireland and I’ve very rarely won games here,” a happy Scales admitted. “It’s always a hard place to come.”
The Irishman also revealed that the heat will set the side up nicely for their summer training camp out in Portugal. “They’re in the middle of their season and I think obviously we’re still getting up to speed, and it was a really good run out,” Liam said.
“You go abroad for hot weather training but it was about 27 degrees here I’d say so even to get that extra bit in the heat is really good.”
Watch Liam Scales give his take on the Bhoys’ 1-1 draw with Shelbourne in Dublin yesterday evening below…
Paul Gillespie
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