Sad news for Celtic: he will never return

Will Celtic secure their spot at Hampden once again?

As the Hoops chase a sixth treble in just nine seasons, they’ll welcome Hibernian to Parkhead in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

Well, David Gray’s side certainly cannot be taken lightly, considering they’re unbeaten in 13 top-flight matches, Hibs’ longest sequence in a single season for 75 years, a run that features a 2-1 victory over Celtic at Easter Road a fortnight ago, while 7,000 Hibees will make the trip to Glasgow for what promises to be a fantastic occasion.

Brendan Rodgers has won all 19 Scottish Cup ties he has ever been part of as a manager, hoisting the trophy aloft three times to date, and if he’s going to keep that streak going, the boss will have to cope without an “absolutely pivotal” member of his defence.

Liam Scales’ injury latest

After Auston Trusty was forced off in Paisley, he was replaced by Liam Scales, who Rodgers said “came in and did really well”, albeit with the Irishman now set to miss the weekend clash after injuring his cheekbone.

Regardless, Scales has rather lost his place in the starting lineup to Trusty this season, as the table below outlines.

Despite primarily being out of favour, Scales was introduced at halftime of the League Cup Final in December, after which Rodgers described the Irish international as “brilliant”, adding the decision to introduce him as a substitute was made because “we looked so clunky and couldn’t get through the pitch… I didn’t like that”.

Scales has therefore been unfortunate to be an unused substitute on 12 occasions this season, while he will once again miss out on some much-needed game time come Sunday, having been “absolutely pivotal” to the Celts’ success not too long ago, in the words of his manager.