Stephen Welsh

Rodgers said: “Stephen is probably two weeks away from training with the team, he is out on the field working with the rehabilitation team and doing very, very well.

 

Ideal as backup but will find himself second bottom of the pecking order now.

 

Aye I’m a big fan of him but I think his injury at that time when it looked after a wee cameo he was going to be the guy to come in and make a difference, bad timing for him, twice now btw happened last season after CCV’s surgery as well… Scales took his big opportunity whilst he was injured.


I really like him and think he needs to leave for his careers sake now, as much as selfishly I’d want to keep a hold of him so we have like 6 options I’d be happy with.


Tbh I have seen more to trust in Welsh than Lagerbielke but£4.5m odd new signing will not be pushed that far down the pecking order so quickly. He’ll get more chances to prove what Rodgers bought him for than Welsh will, even if he outperforms him for a while.

And really that was rhe exact situation with Starfelt, I was raging with that at the time, was by far the right thing to do and I need ten hail marys despite me no being religious anymore in penance for questioning oor Ange

 

Welsh should be loaned for 6 months for me, just needs games.

 

Aye I’d go along with that. I wanted him out somewhere for a season last year, especially with the reported Serie A interest. If we could have loaned him there, to one of the smaller teams he’d play for or even Serie B. 30/40/50 games more. He’d have kicked on so much more at a crucial time, he’s in danger of stagnating though.

 

First game back and straight into CL, when you are 3rd - 5th pick. Wow!

Not perfect tonight, but for me he has a different ceiling from others with his passing out from the back and leadership.

Only issue I have with him is he is injury prone. Hope tonight doesn't add to that.

 

His distribution and composure was definitely there tonight..

Agree with everything above actually. To come in from the cold like that and play as well as he did, against a top level striker, despite no having it all his own way..

Deserves credit..

 

Thought he was really good.

 

He was excellent, so composed on the ball and solid. His fitness issues are becoming a big worry however. Unsure what really happened to him tonight but he constantly seems to be picking up knocks or pulling up.

 

He was excellent. Hope his knock isn’t too bad, he needs to kick on

 

Absolutely delighted for him!!!

 

His passing has always been underrated. I know he gave it away once in a dangerous area but that's because, like Scales, he tries to play football. That means riskier passes.

 

Love how little praise he will receive by people who have went all-in with abuse in the past...so they can wait for a mistake by the boy and reload.

 

He's never let us down he tends to get slaughtered for no reason

 

...see Mikey Johnston thread

 

That one early on after the high boot on McGregor, when he won it in their half and played it forward was so positive. Love that from him.

 

STEPHEN Welsh tonight confessed he was surprised that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers picked him to start in the final Champions League group game against Feyenoord – but then vowed to build on his display in the 2-1 triumph.

Welsh, who has not featured for the Scottish champions since undergoing an ankle operation back in August, was superb at the back against the Dutch giants at Parkhead alongside Man of the Match winner Liam Scales.

The 23-year-old admitted that he was taken aback when Rodgers took him aside before training at Lennoxtown on Tuesday and told him he would be playing in the Group E encounter with Arne Slot’s side.

The defender, who has only taken part in 45 minutes of competitive football in the 2023/24 campaign, revealed that he had only featured in one friendly game since returning to full fitness after his injury.


But the Scottish defender, who was given the nod ahead of Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips and Gustaf Lagerbielke, believes he can continue to feature under the Northern Irishman in the coming weeks and months.

“It’s always a good night when you’re playing in the Champions League at Celtic Park,” he said. “It’s a special night even though in terms of qualification the game didn’t mean anything.

“Personally and for the team it meant a whole lot to go out there and put on a good performance in front of the fans. They pay a lot of money to come and watch us play in the Champions League and it’s about giving something back to them with our performances. Thankfully we have won our game here for the first time in 10 years. To give them a special night is all we can do.


Obviously I’ve been out for a few months now and it’s been a tough few months. Back in August I had a bad injury and I had to get a big operation so it probably was a bit surprising. But when you see your name in the starting line-up you know you need to put in a good performance.

“The gaffer has put his trust in me to play in a Champions League game and it’s a big game to come back into especially against a top side like Feyenoord. They were really good tonight, but I enjoyed it. I was feeling it a wee bit in my legs, but I felt I did myself no harm. Hopefully we kick on at the weekend.”


Welsh added: “It was yesterday just before training the manager told me I was in the team. And that was it. The gaffer puts trust in his players. I’m part of the squad and when called upon I’ll always give my best for the club.

“When I found out the manager was coming back in the summer I was really excited because I trained with him when I was younger. I was too young to play at the time, but I was really excited he was coming back. It was almost like a fresh start for me this season.

“When I got the injury it was really unfortunate because I was looking to play. But I’m back now and fully fit and ready to go for the rest of the season.

“I had a friendly with the younger lads a month or two ago. That’s my first game back. I felt good for maybe the first hour, but that’s normal, especially with the pace of the game. For a dead rubber game the pace was good. Feyenoord turned up and played good football but we did really well.”

Welsh was replaced by Lagerbielke with 15 minutes remaining and he was delight to see the substitute head home a Matt O’Riley cross in injury-time to seal a narrow victory.

“Gus has come on and been excellent,” he said. “Me and him and big Mike (Maik Nawrocki) have all been training most days and they train like animals every day. Gus has got his reward and so have I coming into the team to play in the Champions League.

“He’s a great guy and a good footballer and he works hard every day. He’s a very good defender, very good on the ball and I’m delighted for him. It’s tough to come into a new environment when you are maybe not getting the game time you want.

"But it is what it is. At a club like Celtic there’s competition and when you get that jersey you have to try and keep it.”

 

Thought he was outstanding, especially given the circumstances.

One slack pass in a dangerous area but he tried to play it through 2 pressing attackers from Feyenoord and free up McGregor in the middle of the park. Was absolutely the right pass to make, he just never put enough into it.

Excellent display nonetheless. Delighted for him.

 

Buzzing for him.