Everton are reportedly hoping to bring Motherwell’s Scottish Premiership forward James Scott to the Premier League.
James Scott probably dreamed of scoring a 25-yard screamer on his first start as a professional football. Instead, he almost sparked a mass brawl and left a ruffled Brendan Rodgers spitting feathers.
Early in the second half of a bad tempered Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Motherwell in February, Scott was in no mood to resort to tradition.
After Ryan Christie hobbled off to receive treatment on the sidelines, the 19-year-old neglected to give the ball back to the hosts and instead raced towards the Celtic’s goal as the home defence stopped in their tracks and wondered what on earth was going on.
Gboly Aribiyi eventually tapped the ball past Scott Bain but Scott’s celebrations were short lived. Celtic players, incensed by an apparent lack of sportsmanship on the teenager’s part, crowded around the striker, fury etched on their faces and demanded the goal be chalked off.
The referee allowed it to stand. Cue further controversy.
Despite eventually cruising to a 4-1 win at Parkhead, Rodgers was in no mood to let Scott off in his post-match press conference.
“He knows exactly what he is doing, he has played in football games before. He will learn from that, of course I am disappointed for him because he is making his first start,” the usually calm Rodgers told STV.
“There is no excuse. I am disappointed for my players because we have kept clean sheets, we are domestically very focused on our defending and that is a goal against our work but more importantly goes against the ethics of the game and that is the disappointment.”
Needless to say it is Scott’s goal-scoring ability, rather than any inclination to flout the ‘rules’ of fair play, that has scouts from Everton flocking to Firhill, according to TEAMtalk.
The Glasgow-born forward has scored three goals already in all competitions this season with The Toffees just one of a number of sides, including Sunderland, Sheffield United and Bournemouth, who are watching him closely.
Yet Everton coach Marco Silva will be hoping that Scott leaves the controversy behind.
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