Liam Scales hopes Celtic throw him in at the deep end

Celtic’s new signing Liam Scales is eager to get his first taste of playing for the club and believes he has the ability to thrive in Glasgow.

Scales is one of a raft of new signings that manager Ange Postecoglou can call on after a major turnover in the Celtic squad. The 23-year-old signed from Shamrock Rovers in the last week of the transfer window.

Although he knows there will be competition to make the first team, the defender wants to be thrown into the tick of the action immediately.

“I’m going to work as hard as I can in training and try my best to break into the team,” he said. “As a player, you want to get in as soon as you can, but if the manager thinks that I need time to get up to speed, that’s fair enough.

“But I’m young and eager and I’ve always been the sort of player who wants to get thrown in at the deep end to see how I fare.

“It could work either way, because it is up a level from where I’ve come from, but I do feel like I have what it takes. I know that the pressure is on straight away at a club like Celtic.

“There isn’t much time to be easing yourself in slowly. I’m well aware what’s required and I’m looking forward to giving it a shot. We’ve got a busy month coming up and it’s a great feeling to be able to look forward to games.”

Scales, who was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time for the last international break, said that he had enjoyed a busy spell that saw him take part in his old club’s European campaign before switching to international football and the next step of his club career in what’s been a whirlwind month.

He said: “We won the league at Shamrock Rovers last year and we’re top of the league this year so because I was in the team every week, doing well, it was in the back of mind that I could take a step up to the next level.

“It was about waiting until the right move came up but when this came about, it was a no-brainer.

“The transfer was first mentioned to me in the first week of August. The plan was that I’d play a few more games with Shamrock Rovers until the European games were over and then I’d be moving after that, but it went on a little bit longer than I originally thought.

“It was a mad week, signing for Celtic and then getting my first international call-up.

“This move to Celtic is a step up from Shamrock Rovers, so if I can get myself into the team and play here, I’m sure it will put me in the window for more international call-ups.”