Stephen Welsh

We are incredibly short in midfield.

Turnbull, Abildgaard, Ideguchi, Mccarthy all not good enough. O'Riley likely to be away in summer and Mooy no better than cover at best. Leaves us with Mcgregor, Hatate and Haksabanovic. That's a good 3 but needs strengthened

 

Postecoglou had another head injury worry after the game with Stephen Welsh forced off.

Asked for an update on the Scot, Postecoglou said: "I don't know mate he is getting his head stiched up and that was our main concern."

 

Hope he's alright. Looked like that could've been a penalty actually as he headed the ball and the boy headed him..

That aside though.....he just isn't good enough for me. Hopefully the Japanese boy can replace him and we can find a centre half better than Jenz as well..

 

https://celtsarehere.com/celtic-defender-suffers-injury-blow/

STEPHEN WELSH PICKED UP A LITTLE SORT OF A NIGGLE ON THE LAST DAY OF CAMP IN PORTUGAL SO HE’LL MISS A COUPLE OF WEEKS,” SAID ANGE SPEAKING TO CELTS ARE HERE.

The 22-year-old has featured for the Scottish champions only six times this season with him only really getting gametime due to any injuries




In the only encounter between Celtic and Aberdeen this season, it was the academy graduate who got on the scoresheet on the opening day of the season.

His last appearance under Ange Postecoglou came in the dramatic away victory to St Johnstone with him having been out the squad for a number of weeks.

 

Celtic will have a decision to make over defender Stephen Welsh in the January window. The Scotland under 21 star is being tracked by clubs in England, Italy and France and rumours online have also linked Porto with a possible interest in Welsh.

The central defender was the subject of an approach from French side Toulouse in the last window but that was knocked back by the Hoops. Welsh, who missed the win over Aberdeen with a minor injury, has made just six appearances for Celtic this season and that has alerted several clubs about his possible availability.



It remains to be seen if the club would open the door for a move next month. Welsh was needed for the Champions League but that assault is now over. Ange Postecoglou has also signed another central defender in Yuki Kobayashi and he will be registered when the window opens next month.

 

Good stuff

 

Always thought it worth keeping him around as it's at least conceivable that he keeps improving and ends up a solid option for us. But realistically, if a move presented itself for him, then hes got to take it.

 

If we were to sell Welsh, I think it’s one we might regret in a few years time. He needs to be playing regularly which he won’t do here just now. I still think a loan deal would be the best option for us as this stage.

 

Many of us would like to see the back of McCarthy and Welsh but I fear that we run our homegrown quota too close. I think he's worth keeping around for that alone.

 

I think he should be punted out on loan in January, get some game time, as we are stuck with Jenz till summer. Longterm, keep him as 4th choice, as the * boy will be 3rd choice.

 

A loan move would be ideal for him at this stage of his career, he needs first team games.

 

Club grown for Welsh which is hard to replace. We currently have him, Calmac, Jamesy and Ralston with Johnston on loan. It depends if Mikey fits in somewhere if we can let Welsh go.
Homegrown is easier to replace, we have Bain, McCarthy, Turnbull and Taylor. However what quality is there at the moment to sign with that background?

 

Don't rate him but a loan would make sense in January..

At the very least he goes away, performs and it drives his value up..

 

Someone in the championship would take him no doubt about it. Goes and performs there for 6 months and that would significantly raise his profile and value.

 

The fact we have signed a fourth CB in Kobayashi, indicates Welsh is heading for the exit door in January.
Ideally some of those clubs who offered us 2/3M before for Welsh, come back in for him and we get a few more bucks for the transfer kitty.

 

I actually get the impression it's more Jenz that isn't in the long term picture, especially if the £3m price tag is real. If Welsh leaves now it's for a loan, which is probably best for us if he stays or leaves.

 

Punt

 

Loan. There’s mistakes in him but enough promise to warrant giving him a chance upon return

 

He'll do well in Italy I think

 

Jenz is clearly ahead of Welsh. Started far more games ahead of him and selling Welsh would cover cost of signing Jenz