Jens Berthel Askou speaks about Stephen Welsh making a permanent Celtic exit to Motherwell

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Stephen Welsh is enjoying a great season at Motherwell as his loan spell away from Celtic continues to bear fruit for the defender.

Welsh was a bit-part player at Celtic as he struggled to break into the starting line-up ahead of the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty.

Now at Motherwell, Welsh is flourishing away from Celtic as he enjoys what is probably one of the best seasons of his career.

And as reports suggested that Welsh will not be recalled by Celtic from his loan spell at Motherwell in January, Jens Berthel Askou was asked if he would like to sign the 25-year-old permanently.

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Motherwell have not held a ‘discussion’ with Celtic over Stephen Welsh

The Motherwell boss was taking in his pre-match Celtic press conference when he was asked directly if he would like to keep Welsh permanently at the Fir Park club.

Askou told Motherwell FC, “Well, that’s a very early thing to [talk about]. It’s not a discussion that we have opened up at all.

“So the initial deal was he was with us for the season and nothing has changed according to that deal that we have made with Celtic.

“They seem very happy about it. Welshy is extremely happy to be here and we are extremely pleased with his impact that he’s had here and his development as well, and we are just continuing that journey together with him.”

How Celtic defender Stephen Welsh is feeling at Motherwell

And as Celtic are willing to allow Welsh to remain at Motherwell for the rest of the season, Askou shared how the defender is feeling at the Lanarkshire club.

Reporter: “You’d be pleased if Celtic didn’t recall him? You would be very happy with that?”

Askou: “No, of course. Of course. I think everyone at Motherwell will think that’s a good thing and that’s the plan for now until someone tells us otherwise.

“We are extremely pleased with him and he seems extremely happy to be here and is performing at a very high and consistently high level which is important for us as a football club.”

Tonight’s fixture at Fir Park will be another stiff test for Nancy’s Celtic as Motherwell are flying high in the league playing some attractive and attacking football.

With how Celtic defend right now, it would be no surprise to see a high-scoring game in Lanarkshire tonight.

As long as Celtic score more than Motherwell, then that is all that matters at this moment in time.