Celtic transfer news as Liam Scales reveals Adam Idah hidden strengths and Marco Tillio hoping for Aussie rebirth

Liam Scales is hoping for the chance to work with Adam Idah at Celtic again, and reckons his physical attributes would be a nightmare for Premiership defenders to try and deal with on a long-term basis.

As Record Sport exclusively told you on Wednesday night, the Hoops are close to sealing the Republic of Ireland striker's signature on a permanent deal, despite Norwich City's reluctance to sell the player. It comes after the 23-year-old made a huge impression in a loan spell for Brendan Rodgers' side in the second half of last season, scoring nine times in 19 games - including a last minute winner against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final - to help the Parkhead club scoop up a league and cup double.

Defender Scales, who has established himself as a key man in the Celtic back line alongside Cameron-Carter-Vickers, will be delighted to see his compatriot back in Glasgow's east end. Speaking at a press conference, he said: "We'd love to have him back. He's obviously a brilliant player but to have him in the changing room is brilliant.

"He's good guy who is funny and everyone got on well with him. He was massive for us, scored massive goals and had some massive performances. We'd all love him back but it is out of our control. Hopefully it happens. He is obviously very different to Kyogo. Kyogo is brilliant and is an amazing player but Adam's got more physicality.

"Kyogo is better playing off people's shoulders and scores loads of goals doing that but Adam gives you that option where you can play it into his feet and he can hold off big Scottish defenders that he is playing against and then we can get out creative players playing off him. That is probably a strength that apart from the goals that he scores, that he will bring."

One man who won't be returning to Parkhead next season is Marco Tilio. The winger only joined the champions from A-League side Melbourne City for £1.5million last summer, but was restricted to just two outings in the first half of last season with injury. The Australia international rejoined Melbourne on loan for the remainder of the campaign last February, but once again injury meant that he only played four times.

The 22-year-old has now extended his stay with Melbourne for another season and is hopeful that he will have a change in his fortunes this time around. Speaking to ESPN, he said: "It's probably been my toughest year of being a professional. Getting that dream move to Celtic and then pretty much from there, everything didn't fall into place. Being injured there and then coming back here on loan to play football and help qualify for the Olympics, it pretty much all was taken away from me through other injuries.

"It was a tough year being out [around] eight months of the past 12, that's why I hope to have a really good preseason this year. I've got plenty of time to get myself fit and strong and ready to have a good year.

"You spend a lot of time when you're alone, doing rehab. Mentally, it can get hard. It tested me and really how much I wanted to be who I wanted to be in football.

"It made me see who I truly am. I've come out the other side, about to finish my last rehab for this injury, and I feel I put myself in my best possible position to be fully fit. I want to play football first and foremost. Hopefully, good performances will lead to other good things.

"A good year here at City looks to set me up nicely to go back overseas and get back into the Socceroos fold. I wanted to be somewhere where I knew I was going to play as much football as possible because I didn't want to go two years without playing football.

"It was always Melbourne City. I was contacted by a few clubs in the league and also clubs overseas but ultimately I made the decision I should stay here for the year."