The biggest positive to come out of pre-season for Celtic was the fact that there have been no fresh injury concerns.
Everyone is aware of Jota’s long-term injury, and that’s something Brendan Rodgers is hoping Celtic deal with via the 2025 summer transfer market because it doesn’t look like he will be back until 2026.
But whilst the rest of the summer window frustrates fans, and there were mixed results and performances in pre-season, everyone seems to be healthy for the new season ahead.
Over the weekend, Celtic beat Al-Ahli to secure third spot in the Como Cup, and the man who was last in the treatment room is back up and running.
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Stephen Welsh returns for Celtic against Al-Ahli
Stephen Welsh picked up a shoulder injury during Celtic’s win over Cork at the start of pre-season, and it seemed as though his summer was already over.
But, against Al-Ahli, he returned to action, and Simon Donnelly thinks that Rodgers will be ‘pleased’ with his early comeback, as he told Celtic TV (26/07/25).
Welsh was loaned out to Belgian side K.V. Mechelen during the winter transfer window, and he returns with some strong experience under his belt.
“It’s good to see Stephen Welsh back on the pitch after he got that shoulder injury in Cork,” said Donnelly. “Everyone was worried that he was going to be out for the long term.
“I think it will please the manager. We touched upon it at the start of the game, with the injury situation. He has been quite positive. Don’t want to tempt fate.”
Brendan Rodgers’ centre-back options for the new season
Many will agree that Cameron Carter-Vickers is the main guy at the back and the starting centre-back under Rodgers.
But it’s a case of who starts alongside the American? Because the two obvious ones, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales, divide opinion.
Either way, these are Rodgers’ options ahead of the Premiership opener against St Mirren on Sunday.
- Cameron Carter-Vickers
- Auston Trusty
- Liam Scales
- Hayato Inamura
- Dane Murray
- Stephen Welsh
- Kieran Tierney
- Colby Donovan
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