Brendan Rodgers appears to want Stephen Welsh to stay at Celtic and has suggested that the defender could play in 40 games this season.
That seems far fetched after he enjoyed his first competitive outing in eight months today, coming on at half-time away to Aberdeen after Cameron Carter-Vickers complained on a hamstring issue.
Welsh slotted in to the right of Maik Nawrocki and turned in a near flawless performance, standing strong as Aberdeen pushed for an equaliser in the middle of the second half.
Under Ange Postecoglou it seemed that there was little life beyond Carl Starfelt and Carter-Vickers, on the rare occasions that they were missing the former hoops boss turned his attention to Moritz Jenz and Yuki Kobayashi.
Clubs from Italy, Germany and Portugal have been linked with Welsh over the last couple of windows but Celtic’s asking price and conditions have put them off.
With Gustaf Lagerbielke expected to join Celtic this week it looked likely that Welsh would be on his way but today’s performance may have forced a change of opinion with The Celtic Way reporting the hoops boss speaking at today’s post-match media conference.
I thought he was excellent when he came in. I like Stephen. I took him with me one pre-season as a young player because I really liked him but for whatever reason he maybe hasn’t played the games.
He is a Celtic boy, he wants to be at the club, I want him to be at the club. I said to him I can’t guarantee how many games you are going to play, he may play 40 games in the season, but I know he is always ready. He trains really hard every day. He came into the game and played with composure.
He’s aggressive. It was really well done by him and by Odin. He’s a good player. He’s going to really show his talent as he goes through his time at Celtic. He’s a fantastic footballer he’s got an edge, he can see a pass, he can move well.
And Yang came into the game and set up the third goal with a great bit of skill. I was really pleased for all the boys that came into the game and contributed.
After so long out in the cold Rodgers’ words will be very welcome to Welsh but eight days ago he failed to make the matchday squad for the SPFL opener against Ross County.
With Carter-Vickers suffering some sort of hamstring problem today the former Spurs defender is likely to miss next week’s Viaplay Cup tie away to Kilmarnock whether through injury or as a precaution.
Welsh and Nawrocki provided a formidable obstacle today against at attack minded Aberdeen side that finished last season with a run of seven straight wins on home soil.
One factor that could be swaying Rodgers’ thinking is that Celtic need to have four players that have come through their own academy in the first team squad for UEFA competitions.
Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Tony Ralston are obvious picks with Welsh the most realistic fourth choice which probably edges him ahead of Liam Scales in the pecking order with the Irishman also currently in a back up central defensive role.
▶️ Celtic made it two wins from two and finish the day top of the table with a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/PhJn3j4UhA
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 13, 2023
