Stephen Welsh flourishing on loan from Celtic as Andy Walker highlights improvement

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Just like Martin O’Neill, Stephen Welsh has had two spells at Celtic this season, but he has hardly featured.

Instead, at the start of the season, and then during the January transfer window, Welsh has been loaned out to fellow Premiership rivals, Motherwell.

While Celtic are involved in utter chaos, Welsh is playing for one of the best footballing teams in the Premiership, who could either cost or help O’Neill’s side in this three-way title tussle.

To put it simply, Welsh wouldn’t have and wasn’t getting the regular game time he would have craved at Parkhead, but given that Motherwell are providing him with that, Andy Walker thinks the centre-back is thriving.

“He has improved as a player because he is playing every week,” said Walker.

“He is playing under a good coach. He is playing beside good players. I think he would have had a bit of a lift. A bit of a boost to his confidence. He is obviously injury-free. Playing every week.”

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Has Stephen Welsh proven a point to Celtic with his Motherwell form?

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Stephen Welsh thriving outside of Celtic

Welsh only returned to Celtic in the winter because the club were in need of centre-backs after cancelling Jahmai Simpson-Pusey’s loan deal from Manchester City.

Yes, there have been some who have argued that Welsh would have performed better than some of the dross that has been on display this season.

But this way, playing week in and week out for a top-six Premiership side, he has upped his value and allowed Celtic to collect some money for him in the summer.

That’s if they look to sell Welsh, who Craig Moore also questioned on Go Radio, whether he is at the level of Celtic, despite his stellar performances at Fir Park.

“He has improved as a player because he is playing every week,” said Walker.

“He is playing under a good coach. He is playing beside good players. I think he would have had a bit of a lift. A bit of a boost to his confidence. He is obviously injury-free. Playing every week. I think he must have really enjoyed the season up until now.”

Craig Moore: “He is a competitor. Even when he wasn’t unfortunately getting the game time at Celtic, you could see that there is a player there. 

“At what level is he going to end up? Okay, I still think time will tell. But getting games, and all that sort of stuff, he is certainly flourishing.”