Celtic star returns to training as defender hands Brendan Rodgers much needed injury boost

Stephen Welsh has given Celtic a boost by returning to training.

The defender has now rejoined Brendan Rodgers’ first-team squad this week. Welsh will need to work on his fitness and match sharpness over the coming weeks before he makes his top team return. The 23-year-old has been out since he suffered ankle ligament damage, after an accidental clash in training, back in August. It was a blow to Welsh and Scottish Premiership champions as it came just days after he had signed a new long-term contract.

The academy graduate had impressed Rodgers and been one of his first four central defensive options. The timing of Welsh’s injury also came at the same time as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki were also sidelined for several weeks with injuries. It left Rodgers short of defensive options and he went out and signed Gustaf Lagerbielke from Hammarby and Nat Phillips on-loan from Liverpool.

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The injuries also opened the door for Liam Scales, who has come into the team and made one of the central defensive slots his own in recent weeks. He has also recently picked up his first caps for the Republic of Ireland.

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