Celtic star follows teammate in scooping special Hoops award after strong season

Coatbridge’s Stephen Welsh has won Celtic Academy Player of the Year award for his fine performances this season.

The centre-back hasn’t featured as prominently in 2022 but has still featured 23 times across all competitions.

It takes his total Hoops appearance tally to 45 after breaking into senior contention at his boyhood club following a loan spell at Greenock Morton.

He joins the likes of teammate Anthony Ralston - who was born in Bellshill and attended Airdrie’s All Saints Primary School - in winning this prestigious award.

Celtic Manager Ange Postecoglou rates the Scotland u21s international highly and praised him recently over his contributions to his playing group as a whole.

Minutes have been limited due to the form of defensive pairing Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers but the Lanarkshire ace has still done enough to merit an award.

A 1-1 Premiership draw with Rangers on Sunday leaves his team six points clear at the top of the Premiership with three games to go.

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