Brendan Rodgers yesterday backed Stephen Welsh to stand up today in the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers who misses today’s game against theRangers and also the trip to Paisley to face St Mirren on 2nd January 2024.
The American pulled up at Dens Park on Boxing Day and will be missing until after the winter break.
The Celtic manager was asked if he had confidence in Welsh standing in against theRangers and was full of praise for the Celtic Academy graduate.
“Yes. Absolutely. You watched Stephen play well against Feyenoord.
“I like seeing him. I brought him through here as a young player in my first time around as the manager.
“He was only a kid then but he has matured. He hasn’t played as much as he would have liked but that’s only because of the form of Cameron and Carl Starfelt when he was here.
“He was always there as a loyal support and I know that I can trust him when I put him in. If he is the guy that gets the chance to play then I have every faith in him to perform.”
Asked if Welsh can follow the example set by Liam Scales in the first Glasgow Derby of the season back in September, Rodgers said:
Yes. I think players know that the opportunity is there. Liam from that moment has kicked on and established himself as a very good player. You always want your best player available but we’ve always got people to come in and take their place.”
