Liam Scales ‘really looking forward' to facing Rangers in front of Celtic fans at Ibrox after unwelcome trend ends
IRELAND ace Liam Scales is relishing a career first when Celtic face Rangers at Ibrox this weekend.
The newly crowned Scottish champions meet their
Glasgow
rivals for the fifth and final time this season on Sunday.
Advertisement
2
Liam Scales is looking forward to playing at Ibrox in front of Celtic fans
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
2
Celtic face Rangers on Sunday
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
It will be the fourth occasion on which Scales will have played in an away Old Firm for the Bhoys having won, drawn and lost one each of the previous three.
But it will be the first time that he will be doing so in front of
There had been no away supporters permitted at Parkhead or Ibrox for the derbies since 2023, with the clubs unable to agree on ticketing arrangements.
That trend ended when
Advertisement
Read More on Celtic
An agreement between the clubs ensures that four per cent of the saleable capacity will be allocated to away supporters.
And Scales welcomed the prospect of finally being able to play at Ibrox in front of 2,000 travelling Celtic fans.
He said: 'It is a tough place to go and they are always tough games. It will help having fans back there. It will be a good experience.
'I have never experienced it with fans so I am really looking forward to it.'
Advertisement
Most read in Football
Exclusive
Exclusive
It has been another successful campaign for Scales, who is now a three-time league champion after Brendan Rodgers' men beat
Dundee
United 5-0 last Saturday.
Having won the
League Cup
earlier in the season, beating Rangers in the final, they will be hoping to complete a Treble when they face Aberdeen in the
Celtic-daft snooker ace John Higgins aims brutal dig at Rangers after Hoops' title triumph
That could then become a quadruple of sorts when they face
Cork
City in the inaugural Cork Super Cup at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on July 8.
The clash at the home of
Ireland
days this
summer
.
Advertisement
He said: 'Yeah, I can't wait. It is great to play in Ireland and it is great to play for Celtic so to do both at once is great.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Heimir Hallgrimsson reveals element of Senegal friendly that makes it perfect preparation for Portugal in World Cup bid
WHEN Senegal were unveiled as friendly opponents for Ireland, Heimir Hallgrimsson stressed the importance of such games to prepare for a World Cup. With our last global finals appearance almost a quarter of a century ago, it has been a long time since Irish fans have dared look that far ahead. 3 Heimir Hallgrimsson believes the friendly against Senegal will be perfect preparation for Ireland's World Cup bid Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 3 Ireland face the African side at the Aviva Stadium tonight Credit: AFP or licensors And most would probably settle for the team being able to hold its own in In reality , the fact that Yet at 19th in the world, Senegal were — after the And, with 20 games played since their last defeat, they boast the longest current unbeaten run in international football . Read More on Ireland MNT Ending that before they go on to play Pape Thiaw's team reached a record Ivory Coast may have edged them out on penalties in the Most read in Football Prior to that, they had gone nine consecutive games without defeat meaning just one loss in 30. By way of contrast, Ireland have been beaten 16 times in their last 30. Watch Robbie Brady aim hilarious dig at Ireland teammates after winning Player of the Year award After The Three Lions scored seven times without reply over two And Hallgrimsson is pleased with what he says are signs of improvement. He said: 'I would say we have taken a step, both defensively and in attack. We have tried to simplify things, some things we like to repeat all the time. Some things the players are starting to understand, what to think when you win the ball, where to look, our identity is clearer and clearer every camp we play and we try to hammer that home. 'As I have said often, going to a club, playing for your club for three months and then coming in for a week with the national team, the most important thing is to try and sink in how we should think as a team, defend as a team, what are the principles here. 'It might be totally different at your club. That's the most important thing in a national team, that the principles are 100 per cent. If you don't have the basics then details don't matter. 'We try to hammer in the basics, in our principles defending and our principles in attack. 'Hopefully you see it, but we see it when we analyse the game, show them the clips of the good things that are happening. For me, it's because they are thinking now more and more the same way.' STYLES CLASH But he acknowledged Ireland will be coming up against a completely different style of football to what they have faced to date. It has been 15 years since the Boys in Green took on African opposition, beating Algeria 3-1 at the RDS during Giovanni Trapattoni's reign. That is, in part, down to the reduced number of friendlies in international football but more to do with Ireland's absence from the Hallgrimsson said: 'If you look at their matches and how they play, massive physicality, I'd say not only speed but running power, they come at you again and again, they look for the space behind you. 'If you watch Afcon, a team like Senegal are specialists in finding pockets to play into, to run into, a third man running in, so we will be tested defensively massively in this game if they play like they have done. 'In their last 20 games they haven't lost. It's amazing for a national team to play 20 games without losing and, before that again, nine games without losing so they are a massive team. 'The first goal is important and that's another aspect of the game when we play them, and individual qualities, similar to 'Everything happens a little bit quicker when we need to defend — if we are ready for that it's a good preparation for 'It's a different kind of opponent, they are looking for spaces behind us and it doesn't happen that often in Europe. Normally there are a few passes before the teams play behind us but that's one of the things we need to look at and improve.' TOPPING THE PILE Portugal's Nations League semi- final win over But the ambition remains to top that group because the play-offs are as much a trap door as a back door. Hallgrimsson added: 'If you end up second, you need to go through two play-off matches to qualify. So everybody's eyes at the beginning of the tournament are on first spot. 'And I think looking at the group, there will be lost points, even for Portugal. So we just need to take care of ourselves and let's see where that brings us.' For now, tonight's game, and Tuesday's match in Luxembourg, will be about preparation for September when With Tonight's starting side may not resemble the line-up in September, given Josh Cullen has been rested and others such as Sammie Szmodics and But Hallgrimsson — who will check on how He said: 'I wouldn't mind losing both these games if we won both games in September, but obviously we want to win all of our matches and we go to every match to win it. 'It is important that we have more than 11 players ready to play. 'There is a different type of individual but the principles are the same and we'd like to introduce the principles to as many players as possible. We never know what's going to happen in September, October, November.' 3 Evan Ferguson and Andrew Moran, right, during a Republic of Ireland training session Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘It has changed massively' – Cork GAA star compares hurling to NFL as he singles out ‘one of the main reasons I like it'
WHILE he is ultimately his side's last line of defence, the man between the posts for Cork could be forgiven for feeling more like Patrick Mahomes than Patrick Collins. Gone are the days when shot-stopping and Hail Mary puck-outs were the only criteria an inter-county Advertisement 2 Patrick Collins revealed how hurling is changing Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 2 He compared being a goalkeeper to being a quarter-back in the NFL Credit: Getty Collins explains that the position has 'evolved hugely' since he joined the He explained: 'When I first came in, to now, it has changed massively. It has become a quarterback role, in my opinion . You're putting people in the best positions possible. 'There's a huge emphasis on puck-outs. The day for pucking the ball long and hoping for the best is gone really. You're trying to play the percentage game. It's not always possible. 'Your core values are still your shot-stopping, your touch, your control, your handling. It's kind of a quarterback feel that you're trying to find space here and there. That's one of the main reasons I like it — it's a challenging position.' Advertisement Read More on GAA As the role of the goalkeeper has changed, so too has the prism through which the performances of men like Collins are analysed. He put his body on the line to make a save that denied Aaron Gillane a goal in last year's All-Ireland semi-final win over Yet that vital intervention would quickly have been consigned to history if his puck-outs were botched. The 2024 All-Star nominee said: 'I'd be critical of myself in terms of that too. I'd be looking for perfection in a way, so if anyone is to be critical, it's going to be me anyway. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling 'Whatever happens outside, I don't mind that. You could have three or four outstanding saves but then your puck-outs aren't on — that's just the challenge of being a goalkeeper. 'It is not always going to be perfect either way. That's what you're striving for — perfection.' Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - Many moving parts must align for a puck-out strategy to be effective. But as his own biggest critic, Collins has grown skin thick enough to handle the backlash when fans vent their frustration over the opposition forcing Cork into a fumble. Advertisement The Garda, 28, said: 'I'd be good at keeping the outside noise out. 'I wouldn't take much heed to what people are saying or what's being said about what way we're playing or what way the puck-outs are going. I know myself what way they're going.' Preventing a side's restarts from malfunctioning is a matter of collective responsibility but still, there is generally a convenient scapegoat when things go awry. Collins outlined: 'It's a team game. It's a link-up between me and the lads. If the lads move and I don't hit them, that's on me. If I hit it and they don't move, that's on them. Advertisement 'But it's just natural that the focus does come back to the goalkeeper — that's just the way it is. You have to have the mental strength to keep on going and take it on the chin really.' Having been Anthony Nash's reserve when Cork completed back-to-back Munster SHC titles in 2018, tomorrow's clash with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds will mark a first appearance in a provincial final for Collins. After losing to the same opposition by 16 points last month, the Rebels resemble a team on fourth down in their own red zone as they look to scupper the Treaty's seven-in-a-row bid. Collins insisted: 'Our work rate wasn't there, our pace wasn't up to what Limerick brought. We let ourselves down as a team. We were disappointed in what we brought to it. Our standards weren't up to scratch. We know that ourselves. Advertisement 'We have an opportunity now to bring a different version of ourselves on Saturday.'
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Jim Crawford backs Ireland U21 starlet to ‘take hype in his stride' as he reveals ‘his family's experienced it before'
JIM CRAWFORD backed Cathal O'Sullivan to block out the noise by making some of his own with the Republic of Ireland U21s. The Cork City starlet is one of three League of Ireland players to have earned their first call-ups into Crawford's panel for today's friendly against 2 Cathal O'Sullivan is one of the rising stars of the League of Ireland Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile 2 Jim Crawford backed him to take the hype in stride Credit: Manu Reino/Sportsfile That will be followed by another friendly against next Tuesday. O'Sullivan is joined by And the Ireland U21 boss praised the trio for making a seamless transition, saying: 'They haven't looked out of place. 'I had a conversation with Cathal saying that last year, when he was playing in the First Division, I thought he was outstanding. Read More on Ireland MNT 'And then, when they got promoted, I said, great, he has that taste now of being in a league winning team. 'He's been excellent. He really has. He's exciting crowds and I'm looking forward to seeing him play for us in this window. 'Cory was someone so young, playing with the top team in the league and looking comfortable. 'He plays with a maturity and a know-how that merits his inclusion. Most read in Football 'Warren's been having a great year. He knows that he's at a stage that will help him develop even more.' O'Sullivan has been the talk of the Watch Robbie Brady aim hilarious dig at Ireland teammates after winning Player of the Year award The 18-year-old scored seven goals in 28 appearances as the Leesiders won the First Division in 2024 and has played 14 times in the Premier Division this season. While City are second from bottom, O'Sullivan's reputations has continued to blossom. The winger visited After Meanwhile, City teammate – and ex-Preston North End star - Seani Maguire argued he is Crawford revealed that the youngster's brother spent time at family handled that experience will serve O'Sullivan well. GOOD STOCK He added: 'I've seen it with players where players would lose the run of themselves with all the external stuff coming from social media or from other people around the game. 'He's played some big games for Cork and he's been excellent, he really has, so I would suggest that he'll just take it in a stride. 'His brother played with Aston Villa. I think he was there for a year, he was saying. 'The family have experienced somebody at that level that goes away to England and tries to forge a career in the game.' Crawford also confirmed that Man Utd prospect Jacob Devaney will make his Ireland U21 debut in this window. The Yorkshire-born midfielder got his first call-up having previously played for the U19s. The 17-year-old is among the smattering of first-timers that also includes Killian Barrett, Cian Dillon – who was drafted in after injuries to Mason Melia and Jack Moorehouse – and the aforementioned League of Ireland trio. And Crawford said: 'Jacob's come in and he's trained well. He had to step out for one of our sessions. It was just to modify his load. 'The beauty with him, he can play as that holding midfielder and he can play as a full-back too, which is always a strength for a player as well in international football . 'He's come in and again, another player who hasn't looked out of place. 'He's a fantastic personality and he's a credit to his family because he's come in and it could have been quite daunting for him to come into a 21s camp. 'He's come in and he's been excellent, he really has, so he's definitely looking forward to putting on the green jersey .'
