‘I am out’ – John Hartson advises Celtic defender to leave alongside Maik Nawrocki

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic have made some some changes to their backline ever since Brendan Rodgers returned to the club during the summer of 2023.

From the get-go, a few big signings were made at centre-back, including Polish defender Maik Nawrocki, but he has spent more time on the bench than on the pitch.

Everyone knows Cameron Carter-Vickers is the main guy at the back, it’s just a case of who sits alongside him at the heart of Celtic’s defence.

Liam Scales made that role his own last season following a breakthrough campaign, but that didn’t stop Rodgers from adding further bite to his defence this summer.

Auston Trusty arrived for big money, but the USMNT international has had a mixed time of it, including being in and out of the XI all season long.

In the meantime, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Stephen Welsh are out on loan, as the club and the players in question have some big calls to make when the transfer window re-opens.

• READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers fumes at ruling as Celtic duo miss out on Scottish Cup semi-final

John Hartson doesn’t see a future for Stephen Welsh at Celtic

It was a busy January transfer window for Celtic, including Welsh making a loan move to the Belgian Pro League and signing for KV Mechelen.

Given Welsh’s status in the Celtic team right now, John Hartson advised the likes of the 25-year-old to leave in the summer, as he asked, ‘why would I want to stay somewhere where I am not playing every week?’.

Hartson feels those in the background not playing much need to ‘move on’, as Welsh was discussed, alongside Nawrocki.

“Welsh, I think is up against it, because of some of the other centre-backs,” said Hartson. “Trusty seems to be the one that’s out of the team, at the minute.

“Then, Scales is the one who has come back in. Sometimes, you can have a bad two or three games. Another player comes in, and he stays in for a while, then he has a bad game, and they change it again. 

“But the good thing for Celtic is that they have two or three options for every position that they can mix the team up quite regularly.

“For me, the ones who are on the fringes, and aren’t playing every single weekend, don’t ever look like they are ever going to be regulars. You have got to look to move them on. Not just for Celtic, but for their careers as well.

On Nawrocki not doing much wrong: “Absolutely not, he came in and I think he has played one game since that (Rangers).

“It’s about playing, being involved and making an impact on the team, in some way or another. If I am out in the cold. I want to go. Why would I want to stay somewhere where I am not playing every week?”

Welsh’s stats for loan club KV Mechelen

The good thing for Welsh is that, unlike Nawrocki, he is actually going out there, earning game time and trying to make a name for himself.

Yes, you have got to feel for Nawrocki, because when he has been handed a chance, he has done very well, but then he finds himself out of the matchday squad again.

Either way, Welsh has racked up the minutes and starts for KV Mechelen in Belgium, including earning a rating of 6.44 by WhoScored.