STEPHEN WELSH faces surgery after the recurrence of a troublesome shoulder injury in Celtic’s 2-1 win over Cork City in Ireland last night.
The 25-year-old central defender came on at the interval to take the captain’s armband from Callum McGregor, but was forced off in the 72nd minute.
It could hasten Brendan Rodgers’ pursuit of a new centre-back with Gustaf Lagerbielke sealing his £2million switch to SC Braga while Maik Nawrocki agreed a season-long loan move to German second-tie side SV Hannover last week.
ON THE BALL….Stephen Welsh is in control, but he new faces surgery on his troublesome shoulder injury after being forced off in the win over Cork City.
The Hoops boss now only has four players available for the middle-of-the-rearguard roles – Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and rookie Dane Murray – and he has always insisted he needs at least five vying for the roles.
Looking at the latest blow for Welsh, Rodgers said: “He’s done his shoulder again.
“It’s the fourth time it’s popped out. You know when it keeps coming out like that, there’s the possibility of an operation, so he has to have a wee think about that.
“By the time the physios got on, it had popped back in, but the pain was too sore so we took him off.”
Welsh spent the second half of last season on loan to Belgian outfit KV Mechelen and this is seen as a make-or-break term for the former Scotland Under-21 international skipper.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Luke McCowan celebrates striking the Celtic opener.
Luke McCowan rifled the champions into a first-half lead in the Cork Super Cup, but some sloppy ply allowed Matthew Murray to equalise in the 67th minute.
Colby Donovan headed in the late winner and Rodgers, speaking to BBC Sport, added: “He’s very competitive and I like him.
“He’s very aggressive, he passes forward.
“He’ll become a bit less rash as his career moves forward, but I like his personality, I like his dominance and he can play football, which you have to be able to do when you play for Celtic.”
WELSH BLOW IN SILVERWARE TRIUMPH
