Ange Postecoglou says Ross County gaffer Malky Mackay should be in the running to be crowned Manager of the Year.
The Hoops boss takes his team to Dingwall today desperate for three points against the Staggies to maintain their lead over Rangers at the top of the Premiership.
But Mackay’s side showed terrific form to break into the league’s top six and Postecoglou has been impressed by the job he’s done in the Highlands.
The Celtic gaffer - who will be touted for the gong himself - picked out other managers for praise, including Old Firm rival Gio van Bronckhorst.
But he reckons Mackay is a leading contender for the award.
Postecoglou said: “I haven’t thought a lot about it but Malky has done a great job there.
“He’s been brilliant for Ross County. At the start of the year, most people wrote them off a little bit.
“He’s not only improved their results. He’s got them into the top six playing good football.
“It’s a credit to him that he stuck to it. I’m sure he’ll be motivated to get them as high up the table as possible now. He’s been fantastic for them.
“But Davie Martindale and Robbie Neilson have also done brilliant jobs at their respective clubs.
“And Gio has done a good job too.
“Everyone who has survived has done a good job - because quite a few of them haven’t!”
Meanwhile, Postecoglou has revealed that forgotten Irish defender Liam Scales is fit and available for selection.
The 23-year-old, who signed from Shamrock Rovers, made 13 appearances before February but hasn’t kicked a ball since Celtic’s Europa Conference League defeat to Bodo/Glimt.
Scales hasn’t been involved in Celtic’s Premiership squad for the past two months, sparking online rumours of a potential injury.
But Postecoglou says the Irishman has trained well, despite not being picked.
At Hampden last week, he was forced to use sub Stephen Welsh in the full-back position after Greg Taylor and Josip Juranovic went off with knocks.
And Postecoglou says it’s just one area of the team he’ll look at when it comes to summer recruitment.
He said: “Liam is fine, he’s training well. But sometimes in terms of team balance, he hasn’t made the bench.
“But he’s available and training well.
“There are still a few areas we need to look at. We’re still rebuilding the squad and I want us to be stronger next year in terms of quality in the squad.
“We’re in a better place than we were 12 months ago but we still have to strengthen and that’s what we’ll do.”
