Martin O'Neill dubs Celtic star 'absolutely wonderful' after Kilmarnock win

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has showered match-winner Liam Scales with praise. The Bhoys narrowly found a way past Kilmarnock at home on Sunday, ensuring they go into the international break with successive wins and a four-point lead over Rangers, albeit the Gers do have a game in hand.

It was an ugly win for the Hoops, who looked every bit like a team that has played seven games since the end of the last international break, with not a single week passing since then without a midweek fixture.

That's no easy task for a side that has relatively little rotation due to some underwhelming squad building during the summer months.

Kilmarnock had an early double effort saved by Sam Johnstone, with poor finishing partly responsible, while they flashed a dangerous cross across the box late on, but the Premiership strugglers really didn't threaten.

Celtic would have liked to have put the game to bed, especially with Benjamin Nygren missing a penalty late on, but they were still largely in control.

Then again, it might have been different if Celtic hadn't had a goal to sit back on, and they have Scales to thank for that. The defender turned home a Camilo Durán cross with an outstretched leg, continuing to add to his reputation of being a lethal threat from set-pieces.

"You just mentioned Scales - Scales has been absolutely wonderful," O'Neill told Celtic TV after the game. "I don't know what he was like at the club before; I'm sure he's a really fine player. In my year in the game he's been sensational for us.

"Absolutely sensational. Occasionally, as a centre half, I'm expecting him to play the ball like an inside forward or something. But overall he's been terrific. Really terrific. He's come up with some big, big goals, but he's come up with big, big moments defensively for us during my time."

Scales has been criticised at times, largely because he can be pretty clumsy dealing with a bouncing ball, but he has been in largely good form since the last break, and he can certainly offer Celtic something at the back.

He is also the go-to back-up left-back, especially in Europe due to Landon Emenalo not being registered. This was a real solid performance from Scales, and it's one that will help silence the critics, at least for now. There is no rest for Scales, now jetting off to represent the Republic of Ireland.