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Aberdeen boss confident Leighton Clarkson and Liam Scales will not be recalled from loan deals in January… but has contingency plans if they are

Neil Gray was at Hampden as Aberdeen's Leighton Clarkson celebrates after making it 4-1 against Hibs.
Neil Gray was at Hampden as Aberdeen's Leighton Clarkson celebrates after making it 4-1 against Hibs.

Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin is confident Liverpool and Celtic will not trigger their recall clauses on loan stars Leighton Clarkson and Liam Scales in January.

Liverpool midfielder Clarkson and Celtic defender Scales were both secured this summer on season-long loan deals.

However, both parent clubs have the scope to recall the loanees during the January transfer window if required.

Aberdeen director of football Steven Gunn has been in contact with both Liverpool and Celtic recently about the players.

The Dons are confident both will still be at Pittodrie when the winter window closes.

However, Goodwin revealed Aberdeen have contingency plans for any unwanted loan recall.

Goodwin said: “Steven Gunn has been in contact with Liverpool about Leighton Clarkson and with Celtic about Liam Scales.

Liam Scales and Scott Pittman in action during the cinch Premiership match between Livingston and Aberdeen. Image: SNS

“At the moment we are confident that both will be part of our plans when the January window closes.

“However, we do have contingency plans in place just in case something were to happen.”

Aberdeen’s Leighton Clarkson scores to make it 1-0 against Atlanta United. Image: Craig Foy / SNS Group

Clarkson a stand-out performer

Liverpool midfielder Clarkson has been one of the Dons’ stand-out performers this season.

The 21-year-old netted a sensational long-range strike on his Aberdeen debut in a 4-1 defeat of St Mirren.

He has netted four goals this season, including another superb 25-yard free kick when defeating St Johnstone 1-0.

England under-20 cap Clarkson also scored a stunning 22-yard volley in the 1-0 friendly defeat of Atlanta United in the United States on Wednesday.

Aberdeen’s Leighton Clarkson celebrates after making it 1-0 against Atlanta United. Image: Craig Foy / SNS Group

Clarkson, 21,  joined Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan last summer.

However, that loan was cut short in January because the midfielder was struggling to get regular game time, having made just four starts.

It is very different at Aberdeen as the midfielder is a regular first-team starter.

In January 2016, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recalled goalkeeper Danny Ward from his loan spell at Aberdeen.

Keeper Ward, now at Leicester City, was an ever-present in the Dons starting line-up.

Aberdeen were level with Celtic on points at the top of the Premiership table after 21 games when Ward was recalled.

Aberdeen would go on to finish second, 15 points behind the champions.

‘Celtic have been great in terms of making this deal happen’

Centre-back Scales, 24, has also been a regular first team starter this season since arriving from Parkhead.

Goodwin attempted to sign Scales on a permanent deal in the summer, but Celtic were not open to selling.

Scales was secured by the Hoops in a £500,000 transfer from Shamrock Rovers and is contracted until summer 2025.

Aberdeen’s Liam Scales and Dundee United’s Jamie McGrath in action.

A loan deal was the only way to get Scales to Pittodrie during this summer’s transfer window.

Goodwin has previously indicated he plans to launch a fresh bid to sign Scales permanently.

Goodwin is confident Scales will remain at Pittodrie for the rest of the season – unless Celtic suffer a centre-back injury crisis.

Even then, he reckons there will be no last-minute recall, as the Hoops will provide early notice.

He said: “Obviously if Celtic were to get a load of injuries over the next month or two they might think they need that defensive cover – if something were to happen to some of their centre-backs.

“However ,Celtic have been great in terms of helping us make that deal happen.

“And if they want to take Liam back, which I don’t think they will, as they have enough cover there, I am sure they would give us enough notice to make a change in that particular area.”

Aberdeen centre-back Liam Scales in action.

Delight at Scales’ international call

Scales did not fly to the United States training camp with the Dons as he is on international duty.

The defender is in the Republic of Ireland squad to face Norway at home and Malta away in friendlies this week.

Scales is one of five players who did not travel to Atlanta due to international call-ups.

Liam Scales of Aberdeen outjumps Murray Davidson of St Johnstone.

Leading scorer Bojan Miovski (North Macedonia) and Ylber Ramadani (Albania) are both with their national squads for friendlies.

Connor Barron is with the Scotland Under-21s, while Ryan Duncan is with the U19s.

Goodwin said: “Liam has been outstanding and I am over the moon for him – I know how much representing Ireland means to him.”

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