The Celtic Star
·20 December 2024
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·20 December 2024
29th July 2023 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland: Pre Season Football Friendly, Celtic versus Wolverhampton Wanderers Stephen Welsh of Celtic FC on the ball. Photo ActionPlus Peter Fitzpatrick
The out-of-favour defender has only made one appearance for the Scottish champions this season and it came in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie against Scottish Championship league leaders Falkirk back in September.
The 24 year-old has been linked with a move to Belgian outfit KV Mechelen in recent transfer windows, and it looks like this deal could accelerate early in the next few weeks if all parties are willing to agree on terms.
As reported by Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, the Belgian Pro-League side want Stephen Welsh on loan in January until the end of the season.
Stephen Welsh of Celtic before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Having featured only once for the Hoops this campaign, Welsh is keen to play regularly in the second half of the season and get a taste of first team football again.
With Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales all ahead of Welsh in the Celtic centre-back pecking order, it is difficult to see how the 24 year-old will be able to break into becoming a regular starter again for his boyhood club.
Celtic v St Mirren – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park Celtic s Stephen Welsh celebrates with the cinch Premiership trophy at the end of the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday May 18, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan
Welsh did not even feature on Brendan Rodgers’ bench against theRangers last Sunday in the dramatic Premier Sports Scottish League Cup final where Celtic won 5-4 on penalties following a 3-3 draw across 120 minutes of football.
Leaving Glasgow for new environs seems the best possible option for Welsh whose days as a Celtic first team regular looks to be numbered. A loan in a competitive Belgian top-flight would be an excellent move for the former Scotland Under 21 skipper.
Conor Spence
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