STEPHEN WELSH has featured in a mere 84 minutes of first-team football this season.
The 24-year-old Celtic centre-back has just about disappeared off Brendan Rodgers’ radar after being used sparingly the previous year.
Welsh signed a new four-year deal in August 2023, but made only 11 appearances in the Irishman’s league and Cup-winning comeback campaign.
GREEN FOR GO…Stephen Welsh wears the captain’s armband in the 1-1 friendly draw with Scott Brown’s Ayr United at Somerset Park in July.
The former Scotland Under-21 international skipper has been used as a bit-part player and, despite being under contract until 2027, it doesn’t look as though there will be a dramatic change of fortune for the versatile Hoops performer who made his debut as a right-back in a 4-1 win over Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park in February 2020.
When Cameron Carter-Vickers, stricken by a toe injury, was forced onto the sidelines for six games this term, Rodgers looked to new recruit Auston Trusty, a £6million deadline-day arrival from Sheffield United, to fill in alongside Liam Scales in central defence.
The Hoops gaffer took the chance with two left-sided operators at the heart of the rearguard while he overlooked the claims of Welsh who favours his right.
The Academy product was linked with a loan move to KV Mechelen in the summer, but the Belgian side were given no encouragement and looked elsewhere.
That situation may change for a Celt at the crossr0ads of his career when the January transfer window opens.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Brendan Rodgers embraces Stephen Welsh after a rare first-team appearance last season, the 2-0 Scottish Cup win over St Mirren in Paisley in February.
In August last year, Welsh was delighted to extend his terms with the champions and, as CQN reported, said: “Signing a new contract for the club that I’ve been brought up on and have supported my whole life was an easy decision to stay at the club for another four years, at least.
“It’s time for me to kick on now and, hopefully, I can have a few good seasons.”
Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite gone according to plan for the defender.
His outing in the 5-2 Premier Sports League Cup victory over Championship side Falkirk at Parkhead in September is his only sighting this time out.
Increasingly, it looks as though his quest for first-team football will see him playing elsewhere in the new year.
