News of Atletico Madrid's bid for Matt O'Riley sent shockwaves throughout Scottish football this week, with frenzied speculation and discussion sparked over his possible departure from Celtic.

It seems even the canteen at Lennoxtown was not immune to such animated conversation over the midfielder's future, even though that has now been put to bed somewhat by the rejection of their offer and Brendan Rodgers' assertion that no key men will be allowed to leave in this window.

Liam Scales has revealed that the Celtic players have been giving their teammate a bit of stick over his links to the Spanish giants in any case, and he had a novel suggestion for ensuring that his manager's plan to retain O'Riley succeeds.

“It’s probably more normal than you think,” Scales said.

“Obviously a couple of people might leave and others might come in. But the core of the squad stays the same. It depends on where you are in the team and playing or not.

“For most of us, nothing changes. The talk is just part of football. If players are going well there is going to be interest in them.

READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers gives update on Liel Abada's Celtic future

“We know if someone leaves there are people to come in because the depth of the squad is very good. No one is worried about it.

“We have a bit of banter about it. If we are in the canteen and something comes on Sky Sports News we’ll have a laugh and a joke about it. It’s never taken too seriously, because we all know the reality can be different.

“Nothing changed for Matt. You wouldn’t even know it’s been thrown about. That’s how professional he is – but maybe we’ll chuck him in a cage until February!”

Scales has surprised a lot of people this season, maybe even himself. And one of the attributes he has shown as he has come from nowhere to become a mainstay of the Celtic defence has been his ability on the ball.

It was a skill he perhaps didn’t get too much opportunity to exhibit on loan at Aberdeen last season, but one that probably explains why he has slipped into the heart of the Celtic backline so seamlessly this term.

Starting moves and being able to play penetrating forward balls are a prerequisite of the role at Celtic Park after all, and Scales has been leaning on his old attacking instincts to help him be as progressive with his passing as he can be.

Unfortunately, the searing pace of his youth has long since deserted him, and as he watches the likes of Daizen Maeda and Nick Kuhn burn away from him in training, he thanks his lucky stars that he made the career-saving choice to move back in the pitch.

“If teams sit off then the centre backs have a lot of the ball and if I can step into the game it might provoke a press and create some space for a midfielder,” he said.

“I do have license to do that. I obviously love defending my box, but I also enjoy being on the ball.

“A lot of the times at Celtic you are high in their half and it’s part of the game I’ve worked on.

“I wasn’t always a centre half. As a kid I played higher up the pitch in centre midfield or the wing.

“I wasn’t a bad winger – until I got to about 12 and shot up! I got lanky and lost my pace, so I dropped back.

“When I was a kid I would have looked at Damien Duff – who was a left footer on the wing. I wasn’t one for coming inside, it was beat a man and get the ball across.

“But once I took that stretch, I had to adapt. I then went to centre mid and eventually left back.

“I’ve mainly been left back or centre back in the senior game though. I’m quite happy where I am. If I was still a winger, I don’t think I’d be at Celtic!”

He might well be at Celtic for some time to come though, with manager Brendan Rodgers going on record with his hope that a contract extension can be agreed between the club and Scales’ representatives.

READ MORE: Rodgers on final week of window, and the Celtic board

That has yet to happen, but the Irishman is trying his best to focus on his football as those in the background sort out his long-term future.

It has certainly been a much more relaxed transfer window for him than the previous one in the summer, when he wasn’t sure where he would be playing come the start of the season.

“The word I’d use is settled,” he said.

“Last time I was unsure about what would happen, but things have gone well, and I am really happy here. I can focus on my football.

“I do feel more established now. It took a couple of months to feel like that, but I’ve probably played almost 30 games so far this season.

“It’s been consistent, but I know football is a mad game and things can change, so you don’t want to get too comfortable.

“There’s no update contract wise but if there are any updates it’ll be through my agent.

“I just focus on the football. I’m relaxed. I've been at other clubs when that stuff has affected my game, so I’ve put it to the back of my head.

“If it happens it happens, that’s the way I look at it.”