Former Celtic captain Tom Boyd has backed the Bhoys’ decision to reject transfer advances for Stephen Welsh this summer, believing he’ll play a vital squad role over the coming season.
Welsh hit the headlines at the weekend after a brilliant header to open Celtic’s goal account for the 2022/23 campaign. It came after reports Toulouse were after the Scottish defender, with the Bhoys rejecting a loan offer with a £3.5m buy clause attached.
Boyd reckons players like Welsh are needed in the Celtic squad, to avoid any injury crisis that really derails Postecoglou’s ambition across a busy season.
Speaking to The Daily Record, he said: “Every single place is up for grabs and that is going to keep people on their toes and making sure they are at their highest levels. Stephen has done ever so well and, as I said, you can only play and show your ability when you have that jersey and show yourself in that starting line-up or coming on as a sub. He certainly has that role for what he is doing just now.
“Ange will want to keep the players that he knows are the ones who can do something for him and the squad in games. Last year, we saw Stephen going into the side and doing ever so well before subsequently he missed out with Carter-Vickers and Starfelt being the partnership.
“But the club and the manager need to have those options. There needs to be back up and players who can step in and do the job. We had a horrendous injury situation last season at times and there were times when the squad was down to the bare bones. So that performance against Aberdeen on the opening day of the season with a clean sheet, his display overall and a goal augurs well for his future.”
I don’t think anyone is expecting Welsh to be a prime starter for our Champions League campaign but as a third or fourth choice defender, he ticks a lot of boxes.
He is committed to Ange’s methodology, he is often cited by teammates as one of the most passionate about Celtic in the dressing room and he is improving all the time.
It might be more fashionable for Celtic to cash in and spend a couple of million on a player, but we know Postecoglou doesn’t really care about optics. Welsh is clearly doing the job the manager wants from him and as long as that is true, there’s no need to sell unless silly money is discussed.
In other news, Another media masterclass from Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou.
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