Celtic player returns to full training in massive boost

Celtic have done a magnificent job increasing their squad depth since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou. Around this time last year, it was paper thin and the manager had to often play players out of position in order to deal with injury absences. The picture is quite different this time around.

The centre-back position is an excellent example of this. Carl Starfelt had been injured while representing the Sweden national team and spent the entirety of pre-season out, also missing the first couple of games of the Premiership campaign. That did not pose a problem for Celtic though.

Stephen Welsh did an excellent job in the opening game vs Aberdeen, scoring and keeping a clean sheet. And when he was ruled out due to illness, Moritz Jenz stepped right in and scored in back-to-back games, against Ross County and Kilmarnock.

Jenz picked up a knock against Kilmarnock, and Starfelt replaced him off the bench, also finding the back of the net in what was his first goal for the club. Thus, Celtic have scored four goals from the centre-back position in the first three league games of the season, with three different scorers. The amount of absences is becoming a worry though, but there is some good news in that regard.

Celtic player returns to training in massive boost

As reported by Football Scotland, Welsh was expected to be back for the game against Kilmarnock but was left out of the squad as he had not fully recuperated. But the defender is now back in full training with his teammates.

Welsh returning is a massive boost for sure, as there appears to be some genuine competition for the centre-back spots at Celtic Park this season.

At the same time, one also has to remember that Starfelt got his first minutes of football in months against Kilmarnock. Thus, it might be a bit too early for the Swede to be starting games once again.

The extent of Jenz’s injury is still unclear although the initial reaction was that it was not a serious one. So it will be very interesting to see who starts alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers in the heart of defence against Hearts.