When Cameron Carter-Vickers didn’t emerged from the tunnel at Pittodrie against Aberdeen last Sunday, all of us felt that inescapable sinking feeling. The one that suggests to you internally that the writing is perhaps well and truly on the wall in this fixture – and it doesn’t look good at all.
With Maik Nawrocki fresh into the team from the start, ideally the Polish defender would have been shown the ropes and eased in by his well-seasoned American friend at the Hoops’ backline. His cameo against Ross County the week before was nothing compared to the endurance test he was going through in the Granite City and a lesser man could have crumbled under the circumstances.
However, big Rocky coped just fine and it was no surprise that he did so with the introduction of home-grown academy talent, Stephen Welsh. Welsh has come in for a bit of stick from certain sections of the support who seem to think that he is a busted flush and incapable of playing for Celtic. I beg to differ. Despite his small stature, he’s great in the air and is a threat in both boxes. He’s also good at playing out from the back and that’s exactly what Brendan Rodgers requires of his centre-backs.
With Cameron Carter-Vickers injured and unlikely to be risked at Rugby Park on that travesty of a playing surface, Stephen Welsh has a golden opportunity to stamp his mark on this new era at Celtic and prove his mettle to those who doubt his abilities to cut it at Paradise long-term. Gustaf Lagerbielke is just in the door and should provide adequate competition for all our central defenders. Welsh must make a statement after his wonderful Pittodrie showing and stake a claim for that starting spot on a regular basis.
Something tells me he will…
Paul Gillespie
Check out Matt Corr speaking to the one and only Martin O’Neill on The Celtic Star Podcast…
Welsh is much better than the majority of people give him credit for. His error count is dwindling season on season. He’s tidy and can play football as opposed to just being able to stop others doing so.
As for detractors, look no further than Greg Taylor.