“He’s not quite at the level” Brendan Rodgers gave the main reasons why he prefers to start Liam Scales ahead of Hayato Inamura during most matches

Liam Scales has been an exceptional servant to Celtic.

When Brendan Rodgers began his tenure at Celtic, Scales was on the brink of leaving the club. However, an injury crisis provided him with an opportunity to resurrect his career.

The Irish defender has been Rodgers’ preferred choice for the past two seasons, as Scales has successfully fended off competition from players such as Auston Trusty, Maik Nawrocki, and Gustaf Lagerbielke.

Nevertheless, Scales is currently receiving an excessive amount of playing time, and it is not due to his merit.

Liam Scales has been deployed as a backup left back to Kieran Tierney as the mystery surrounding Celtic’s Hayato Inamura continues, as Brendan Rodgers’ damning judgment on the player provides him with justification.

Brendan Rodgers resolves the enigma by clarifying why Inamura has not been included in the Celtic matchday roster.

Rodgers stated to BBC Sportsound, “It is exceedingly straightforward.” He is not yet at the level that I would anticipate.

“The intention was for Ina to train and assess his current status, with the potential to go out on loan, as he has only played for one year.”

“If I were to pit him against Lamine Yamal, his defensive capabilities would not be sufficient.”

“It is as straightforward as that.” Therefore, that is the reason for his absence.

The issue is that he is not competing against Lamine Yamal, is he? In the official rankings, Inamura is ranked as 301 and is currently competing against Scottish teams and European side UEFA.

Therefore, this poses a significant concern.

What motivated Celtic to acquire Hayato Inamura?

Although it is a straightforward inquiry, the resolution of one prompts the emergence of another. Given that Rodgers did not have a high opinion of Inamura and was aware that he required a high-quality backup for Tierney, why did he authorize the purchase?

At the age of 23, Inamura is not yet at a stage in his career where he will be able to rival Champions League players in terms of his defensive capabilities in a single loan season.

Or even players who are domiciled in Scotland. Rodgers and the recruiting team are the only ones who can provide an answer to this question, as the Celtic manager ultimately has the final say on all players who join the club, correct?