Uefa Nations League Group Two: Republic of Ireland v England (Saturday, Aviva Stadium, 5pm)
From Brendan Crossan in Abbotstown
LIAM Scales says playing in last week’s Old Firm derby is ideal preparation for Saturday’s Uefa Nations League showdown with England in Dublin as he hopes to add to his six senior international caps.
Playing against Rangers one week and England the next is “as good as it gets”, he says, for a professional footballer.
The 26-year-old has made a solid start to the season, playing every minute of Celtic’s four SPL games and being part of a back-line that has yet to concede a goal.
The former Shamrock Rovers man also got on the scoresheet in Celtic’s opening league game of the season against Kilmarnock.
“It’s been a great start,” he said of Celtic’s campaign. “I am happy with how I am doing personally and the team.
“We’ve had a near-perfect start, not conceded a goal in the league and into the next round in the League Cup - five wins in five games is a good start.”
Celtic outclassed Rangers at the weekend [3-0] with Scales now hoping to bring his club form into Saturday’s Anglo-Celt contest at the Aviva Stadium.
“It’s not happened before that a player will have Rangers one week and England the next,” said the Wicklow native.
“It’s as good as it gets. Hopefully we can do as well as we did on the weekend against Rangers, bring that into Ireland against England.
“Obviously I can take the experience of playing against Rangers - but it is a little bit different.
“I think the players know how big this is for us and I’m sure the staff will remind us. It’s important to keep your discipline and not let your emotions get the better of you as at the end of the day, it’s a game of football and you want 11 players on the pitch to have the best chance of winning the game regardless of who you are playing against and the rivalry that’s there or whatever.”
Scales made his senior international debut in the home defeat to Greece last September in a Euro 2024 qualifier that effectively ended Ireland’s chances of making a late bid for a place in the finals.
Since then, Scales - a fluent Irish speaker – has become a more rounded player and is perhaps edging closer to a starting place in the Irish set-up.
“I’ve been in a few Ireland squads now,” said the softly spoken left-sided defender.
“Coming into the first one is always a bit nerve-wracking, you don’t know what to expect and it took me a while to come out of my shell a bit.
“I just came in and went about my business because I didn’t want to come across over the top or anything.
“But now I know the lads a bit better and it’s nice to come in and see them all every couple of months, I’m enjoying it.
“Playing a hundred games [for Celtic] has improved me a lot, I have a lot more experience. The first squad I was in, I had just finished playing for Shamrock Rovers.”
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s first selection on Saturday will give clues as to how he plans to approach the Ireland job.
Stephen Kenny, his predecessor, started out playing a flat back four but with so many good central defensive options at his disposal he shifted to playing a back three.
A back three would give Ireland more defensive solidity, with Scales commenting on the early training instructions from Hallgrimsson: “Tactically, I can’t say too much but [we must] be compact and difficult to break down, defending our space well and working as a chain in our unit.”
Seamus Coleman and Andrew Omobamidele took full part in training after a couple of minor niggles brought into camp while Scales has a slight advantage that he’s playing regularly.
Robbie Brady, Nathan Collins, Matt Doherty, Jake O’Brien, Dara O’Shea and Callum O’Dowda are all jockeying for defensive berths against the English.
“Being a left-footed centre half does give me an advantage but the manager is going to pick what he thinks is the strongest team and there is massive competition in that area.
“Four centre-halves are playing in the Premier League, but that will bring the best out of our players.
“I just have to hope that I get the nod and if not I will still be ready to make an impact off the bench if I’m needed.”