I am certain current Celtic star will be a brilliant manager – even if he doesn't believe it YET

Liam Scales won’t be getting stressed over Saturday’s Old Firm showdown after surviving his Ibrox baptism of fire and Antoine Griezmann running at him full pelt in the Champions League.

The Celtic defender has made impressive progress this season under Brendan Rodgers – emerging as one of he first names on the gaffer’s team sheet after looking to be on his way out last summer. Scales was launched in at the deep end against Rangers last September amid an early season injury crisis and played a major part in the Hoops securing the 1-0 win in Govan.

The Irishman has never looked back as he went on to establish himself as the main partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers – bagging a place in the PFA Scotland team of the year and a new four-year contract along the way. It’s been a heck of a ride over the past nine months but Scales admitted the Ibrox examination was make or break for his Celtic career. He said: “Yeah, 100 percent. I knew there was no hiding place. It was almost a turning point as it proved to people I was able.

“I believed I could go in and do well. I’ve always had that self belief. So it didn’t surprise me. But I know now how important it was for the team and the way the season has turned out for me. The Rangers game at Ibrox was a big chance for me to prove a point and prove I could handle it.

“The fact I was thrown in was a good thing. I didn’t have time to think about it, it was just about dealing with it and I came out in a good place. It definitely gave me a belief and a hunger for more games like that, because it was an unbelievable experience.”

The same goes for the Champions League. Scales has proved to be a cool customer but he admitted he really felt he could cut it with Celts when he was trying to keep tabs on one of the modern greats.

He said: “I’d say it probably started during the Champions League spell. It was the unknown for me, I hadn’t played at that level before. I didn’t have any fear going into it but I just thought it was a great opportunity.

“I felt I was capable of playing at that standard but that’s when I thought I could do well there. It just gives you such a buzz and fills you with adrenaline. It’s where everyone wants to be. At the same time, that feeling is over the second you are on the pitch and you can’t even think about it because Griezmann is running at you!”

Scales won’t be up against the Atletico Madrid star this weekend but he won’t underestimate Rangers either. At least he’ll have his big pal Carter-Vickers for company as the Hoops look to get a positive result that would go a long way to securing the Premiership.

The American missed a chunk of the season due to injury problems on the back of surgery at the tail end of last term. But it’s no coincidence his return to fitness and form has played a massive part in Celtic getting their campaign back on track again.

Carter-Vickers might just be 26 years-old and the quiet man of Parkhead, but Scales sees the centre back as a colossal leader at the club. And he can already see the day when his partner will be in the dugout as a MANAGER.

Scales said: “He’s brilliant. We have a lot of discussions about the games. You wouldn’t think it to look at him but he’s one who really analyses the games. He goes through everything and his football intelligence is through the roof. I am learning a lot off him every week, even minor things like positioning or how to deal with different attackers. He’s been brilliant, he’s such a top player.

“Looking at him it’s just like he gets on with it and produced solid performances every week. But he thinks a lot deeper about the game than a lot of people. I think he’s a future manager. I don’t think he believes that himself just yet, but I can see him going into a role like that. He’s got plenty of years left as a player though and hopefully I can play alongside him for a long time.”

The pair will be absolutely crucial this weekend, that’s for sure. And Celtic’s recent clean sheet against Hearts was a welcome boost as well, following a period where the Hoops were slipping into a nasty habit of making life hard for themselves.

Rodgers’s side have lost just once since December – to Hearts – but some of the wins were a little too close for comfort with only two clean sheets in 11 games until the Jambos shutout last weekend. A succession of corner kicks at Dens Park the other week sparked some mild panic as well, but Celts looked far more secure against the Gorgie and and will need to be switching on this Saturday.

Scales said: “It’s been the old cliché about taking it game by game. We haven’t been able to look to this one because you are playing against the teams in the top six and they are the better sides in the league. Each game has been tricky in it’s own way but we’ve managed to get through with the points so far.

“The defending is something we have been thinking about 100 percent. Clean sheets are worth even more than goals – because you can’t lose if you keep a clean sheet. It’s important for us and we are working on ways on being more solid. Hopefully we can go on a good run from now until the end of the season.”