Celtic defender Liam Scales has warned rivals that the Hoops are ready to roar after the international break to keep Premiership challengers at arm's length. The team went into the fortnight with a four-point advantage at the top of the table following a 1-0 win against Kilmarnock on Sunday, with Scales scoring the winner.
Scales: Important to win before the break
Scales insisted Celtic have shaken off their ropy form and will be ready to hit top gear when they return. He said: "We know we haven't been good enough between the last international window and this one. We've let a few results go and we're not exactly where we want to be. It was just really important to win these last two games before the break and be in a good place for coming back."
The Republic of Ireland international added: "We always want to be on top of the table. We don't want to be chasing. We want to be good arm's length from the challengers. That is the goal all season – to stay top."
Players returning to sharpness
Scales noted that key players are regaining fitness, saying: "We had Yang back on Sunday, Jota is obviously starting. These guys are getting back to full sharpness and getting minutes. Hopefully this will help and we can build on it."
Celtic have a four-point gap, having played a game more than second-placed Rangers. Scales admitted the squad wants to avoid a repeat of last season's drama, when they had to come from behind to clinch the championship at the death, having been eight points adrift at one stage and clawing back a seven-point deficit.
Standards at the club
He said: "It hasn't been spoken about – but it doesn't need to be spoken about. We all know the standards at this club that have been set over a number of years. It doesn't need to be discussed where we want to be – because it's top of the table. Last season wasn't what we wanted at all and we don't want a repeat of that."
Scales has joined up with the Republic of Ireland squad for their Nations League clashes in Austria and at home to Kosovo. Meanwhile, midfielder Mika Baur could be forced to pull out of the Germany under-21 squad after suffering an ankle injury late in Sunday's win, with the playmaker awaiting scan results. Wide man Yang Hyun-jun is set to miss South Korea's friendlies with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, having missed two months through injury after being part of the under-23 squad that won the Asian Games in September.
