01-05-2025
Liam Scales dreaming of World Cup with Ireland after more success with Celtic as he reveals Hallgrimsson ‘pushing us'
LIAM SCALES has dreams of a playing in a World Cup with Ireland after another trophy-laden season with Celtic.
The defender, 26, will lift another
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Celtic FC's Liam Scales during the Cork Super Cup Dublin Media Launch at JD Sports in Jervis Street Shopping Centre, Dublin
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
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Liam Scales of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match against England
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
And the dominant Hoops could also
seal
another domestic Treble with victory over
Scales has featured 23 times in this league campaign, including a full 90 minutes in the 5-0 win over
Dundee
United last Saturday that confirmed the Bhoys as champions.
And while Celts prepare for another full-blooded Old Firm with
Speaking in
Cork
Super Cup against
Red More on Ireland MNT
'I really love it and it is an honour and as a player it is where you want to be.'
The bulk of Scales' starts for the Scottish giants came in a first half of the season, which also saw him feature six times in the
Since the 3-0 league loss to rivals Rangers back in January, however, he has started just five times, albeit he was out for a spell with injury.
The Barndarrig Bhoy has played all 90 minutes in the last three fixtures for Brendan Rodgers' men and wants to carry that momentum into what will be a busy second half of 2025 with
Ireland
.
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He has nine caps for the Boys in Green, with his last coming in the 5-0
In his absence, the back four has become a competitive field, with
Jake
O'Brien staking his claim amid a resurgent run with
Heimir Hallgrimsson 'happy with character and discipline' in win over Bulgaria but reveals where Ireland need to improve
Scales will be keen to be brought back into Heimir Hallgrimsson's squad for the June friendlies against
And while he acknowledged the competition within the squad, the former
the challenge
.
He said: 'It is competitive all over the squad but it is a competitive position as well.
'All the lads are top players but that is the dream, isn't it? To play with Ireland and to have 50 or 100 caps. I will do my best.'
Scales was given his senior debut by
Hallgrimsson's arrival has not stunted his involvement, as he started both wins over
Despite missing the two wins over Bulgaria in March, Scales is enjoying life under the Icelander.
But he acknowledged that the crunch will come when they host
Ireland have not made it to a World Cup since 2002, while their last major finals was Euro 2016. And Scales declared that the plan is to end that wait.
He said: 'Heimir has been good since coming in and I think now is when it gets important when we are going into a
'We know he wants the best for the group and he is trying to push us to do that.
'We are really looking forward to working with him for a World Cup campaign and hopefully that is the plan, to qualify.'
