The standard of basketball might have been terrible but Liam Scales reckons Celtic have their own Magic Johnston in tow
He still gets a thrill starring for the Hoops – but Liam Scales admits he’s not much cop at shooting them, writes Craig Swan in the USA.
The Celtic ace is relishing being back in pre-season training this summer as part of the squad’s American tour. The Irishman has done the hard yards on the pitch but is also making the most of the down time in the States with sight seeing trips on a scooter around Washington DC – and games of basketball with his team mates at the team’s George Mason University HQ in nearby West Virginia.
Scales and co gained an incredible VIP invite to the White House but the other game was less than a slam dunk. He said: “How was the basketball? Terrible! Absolutely terrible. We are training over at the university and there are amazing facilities. There are basketball courts, baseball diamonds, American football fields. It’s really cool.
“We picked up a few basketballs and had a few shots. The pictures made us look better than we are! We looked like we knew what we were doing. It’s not really something I every played as a kid – it was Gaelic football for me. I’m more comfortable with my feet, and it shows.
“I know Cameron Carter-Vickers’ dad played basketball so he might be decent but, believe it or not, Mikey Johnston is up there. He’s pretty good and he backs himself – maybe more than he should!”
Celtic might have their own Magic Johnston but Scales admitted it’s been a pretty incredible few years. The Hoops have been to Australia and Japan in recent times – and managed to meet the Pope at the Vatican when they were in Rome to face Lazio last season.
It’s been a hectic jaunt to the States with tough shifts in training in the morning and plenty to do in the afternoons and evenings. The squad have been meeting fans across the city and Scales was part of a group, with Reo Hatate and Anthony Ralston, who got a warm welcome at a JD Sports event in DC’s massive Pentagon City mall.
Scales has soaked up every second on the pitch with Celts roaring to a double last term. But he’s determined to savour everything that surrounds being part of such a big club. He said: “It was a quick summer but it’s great to be back among the lads again. It was such a brilliant end to the campaign you want to get back in as soon as you can.
“Obviously you need the break to rest and recover but you are itching to get back because you are so keen for more. I really enjoy it – it’s really cool. We get to do things you’d never imagine yourself doing. We got to go to the White House. When are you ever going to get that chance? We met the Pope in the Vatican last year and we were over in Japan. It’s crazy, but I’m loving it.
“You have to soak these things up because we know we were lucky. We are working hard in training but we get to see a few sights as well.”
There’s been plenty of pleasure but there is serious business ahead for the Hoops. Scales can reflect on an outstanding campaign last time out as he forced his way into Brendan Rodgers’ side. The 26-year-old looked destined for the exit following his loan spell at Aberdeen, with Dons hoping – and perhaps expecting – to get him back. But an injury crisis at Celts thrust him into the side – and Scales never looked back.
The Republic of Ireland cap was a mainstay for most of the year, yet that doesn’t mean he’s ready to stick his feet up and bank on being one of the first names on the team sheet again this season. Boss Rodgers has started making moves in the transfer market and many have tipped him to draft in another centre back.
Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki landed last summer for more than £7m between them but the pair couldn’t nudge Scales out of the side – and now look set for the door. There’s likely to be added competition to be Carter-Vickers’ main partner – but Scales is ready to meet it head on.
He said: “It was a good season for me, but there’s always room to improve. I’m a year older, more experienced – I played more than 50 games last season. That is going to help me push on this year. I’m looking to cement my place in the team again.”
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