Celtic podcaster Paul John Dykes has been discussing the future of club youngster Stephen Welsh.
Dykes was hosting the latest episode of the ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ podcast as the panel talked about numerous issues involving the Hoops.
The pundit believes that Welsh came into the team when things weren’t right and the young defender should be a part of the team next season, as he expects the Scotsman to get quite a bit of first-team action.
Will Welsh get loaned out in the summer?
Yes
No
Welsh is a product of the Hoops’ youth academy and made his debut for the side last season in a Premiership game against Hamilton. In the current campaign, he’s been quite a regular part of the team in recent months. He is currently valued at £180k according to Transfermarkt.
Dykes talked about him and claimed: “I’ve been banging the drum about Welsh all season but he was thrown in under circumstances that weren’t ideal. That was after we had gone out and bought, and bought, and bought before him.
“We’d brought in [Shane] Duffy on loan on astronomical wages before Welsh – only when we were desperate did the boy get a game. For me, he’s part of the first-team squad next season. We do need to strengthen at centre-half, but I think he should be in and around the first-team squad next season. I think he should get plenty of games.”
TIF Thoughts on Welsh’s future…
There could be quite a bit of uncertainty around the Celtic backline next season, considering that Kristoffer Ajer has been linked with a move away from the club, Christopher Jullien is injured and Shane Duffy’s loan stint ends in the summer.
Jack Hendry is still a Celtic player, but there is uncertainty about his future at the club as he returns from Oostende in the summer. In that case, having Welsh at the club would ensure that there is at least enough resource at the back, and keeping him should be important for the Bhoys.
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