“I’ve seen glimpses of him in action for Liverpool and during the Copa America. He’s obviously adapting to the pace of the Barclays Premier League and that will take him a little bit of time, but I like what I’ve seen,” Scales said.
Coates joined Liverpool in August in a £7 million($10.9 million)  switch from Uruguayan club Nacional. Kenny Dalglish and his staff have brought the 21-year-old along slowly, allowing the player to adapt to the English lifestyle, game and teammates. He played 27 minutes in the 4-0 loss at Tottenham and went the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Brighton in the Carling Cup.
Scales believes Coates has the proper mentality to succeed in the fast-paced English Premier Legue. Fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez will also help the 21-year-old defender adjust to life at a club with high expectations and a rich history.
“He won the young player of the tournament at the Copa America so you can see that he is a talent,” Scales said. “I think having Suarez there, a fellow Uruguayan, will help him too. I think he’s got a good mental attitude and the right personality to be a success at Liverpool.
Scales went on to say that the presence of veteran mentors like Jamie Carragher and Steve Gerrard will help Coates learn what it means to play for Liverpool. If the Copa America winner fully embeds himself into the club, he could be the man in the middle of the Reds’ defense for years to come.
“He can only benefit from having the likes of Jamie Carragher there; senior players who can help him to progress and improve as a player,” Scales said. “They know all about the ethos of the club and I think he’ll be excited about learning more and bedding in at Liverpool. I expect him to be central part of that team over the next few years.”
Scales made 94 appearences for Liverpool between 1994 and 1996.
Photo courtesy of LiverpoolFC.tv
