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Celtic have continued to strengthen the squad significantly in every transfer window since Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at the club in the summer of 2021. Of course, the board deserve immense credit for how much they have backed the manager, even back when not even the fans believed that the Australian was the right man for the Parkhead job.
These constant additions have also made it more difficult for some of the players already at the club to get playing time, as they have continued to slide down the pecking order with each new arrival. One such player is Stephen Welsh.
Welsh was already viewed as the fourth choice centre-back at Celtic behind Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Moritz Jenz, currently on loan from Ligue 1 side, Lorient. And now, it looks like the youth academy graduate has slipped further down the pecking order, as the Hoops have brought in Yuki Kobayashi as well.
As a result, Welsh will definitely find it very difficult for playing time to come by in the second half of the season and has been told to consider an exit. As reported by Football Insider, Tam McManus said:
"“He’s 22 now, he cannot be sat on the bench or in the stands every week“He has to go and play games for somebody. Celtic have depth at centre-back and now they have just signed Kobayashi as well.“Welsh is well down the pecking order at Celtic now and he just has to leave. Whether he goes to Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen or somewhere down south, he has to get away.“Whether it is a loan deal or a permanent doesn’t matter right now. We’ll have to see what kind of offers come in but he is helping no one if he isn’t playing.“I would be surprised if Welsh is still at Celtic when the window closes.”"
Celtic player told to consider exit after he has slipped further down the pecking order
It is pretty clear that Welsh was one of the most highly rated players at the club while coming through the youth ranks and he is one of the few who has managed to make a mark in the first-team, after coming up from the Hoops’ academy. But at the same time, he has never nailed down a spot in the starting XI.
The biggest issue for Welsh at the moment is his inability to string together consistent performances. He is capable of putting in a stunning performance. But not game after game.
A loan move away, to a club where he will play consistent football, might do Welsh a world of good. It is too early to let him leave permanently, as it does feel like there is a player in there.