HOOPS KID AGREES 3-YEAR DEAL

STEPHEN WELSH, one of Neil Lennon’s bright young stars, has agreed a three-year extension with the champions.

The 20-year-old right-back, who made his first-team debut in the 4-1 Premiership win over Hamilton Accies at the start of February, was delighted to pledge his immediate future to the champions.

Welsh will step up the pecking order to put pressure on Dutch teen sensation Jeremie Frimpong and Israeli international Hatem Abd Elhamed for the No.2 shirt.

Moritz Bauer, the Austrian defender who joined on a season-long loan from Championship side Stoke City last summer, has rejoined his parent club.

Scotland Under-21 star Anthony Ralston, who was introduced to the top side by Brendan Rodgers in 2017, is also due to return to the Hoops following his temporary transfer at St Johnstone.

Welsh spent the first half of the 2019/20 campaign at Morton before getting the call to return to Parkhead at the turn of the year.