Irish media slate Liam Scales for poor left wing-back performance against Kosovo | OneFootball

Liam Scales is a player under heavy criticism due to Celtic’s recent poor form, so you’d forgive him for welcoming the international break in a bid to forget all his current club woes…

UEFA Nations League Group Stage, Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo 24/9/2026 Kosovo vs Republic of Ireland Ireland s Liam Scales and MÃrgim Vojvoda of Kosovo Liam Scales and MÃrgim Vojvoda 24/9/2026. Photo PRB1 IMAGO

But unfortunately for Liam, he’s now facing the same dilemma for his country in the wake of the Republic’s 1-0 loss in Kosovo on Thursday night.

Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson played Scales at left-wing-back

Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has continued to deploy Scales as a left-wing-back, and much of the time he has been rewarded with a strong performance.

But the Celtic man was thoroughly unimpressive on Thursday, being caught out on several occasions defensively and offering almost nothing going forward.

Liam was faced with the task of stopping the threat of talented Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova, who tested the Irishman to the fullest. yet while the Celtic defender did get dribbled past twice and dispossessed once, he stood up fairly well, winning seven of 12 contested duels.

The Celtic player also made three clearances, an interception, four recoveries and three tackles – the joint-most of anyone on the pitch.

Defensively sound by Scales criticised for his forward play

But it was his failure to make an impact going forward that really saw frustration in him grow. He completed just 17 of his 26 attempted passes, failing to create a single chance or take a single shot.

He did not complete a single cross, either, and made only five passes into the final third despite being situated on the left-wing.

UEFA Nations League Group Stage, Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo 24/9/2026 Kosovo vs Republic of Ireland Kosovo s Edon Zhegrova and Liam Scales of Ireland Edon Zhegrova and Liam Scales 24/9/2026 Photo RB1 – IMAGO

The Irish media weren’t impressed, in particular RTE who rated scales with the low score of 4/10.

They wrote: “The decision to start Scales at left wing-back will likely be a conversation that fans will be debating over the next few days.

“He sent in one good searching cross in the opening 15 minutes which the goalkeeper fumbled and made a bit of a mess of but bar that he didn’t offer a lot.”

The Irish Mirror weren’t as scathing in their assessment giving scales a modest 6/10, writing that Scales “did his best to get things going in attack down the left, but defensively it wasn’t one of his better nights.”

Ireland to face Austria and also have a controversial double header against Israel

The Republic will face Austria as well as a double header against Israel over the international break. Liam Scales is turning into a whipping boy but you have to factor in that he is a left sided centre-back NOT a wing back.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Scottish Premiership St Johnstone versus Celtic; Liam Scales of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Celtic’s failure to recruit a fit left back as cover for the fragile Kieran Tierney has seen Scales having to stand in as the left back cover of last resort and this is now affecting his international career.  Two sides to every story and all that…

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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