Opinion: Celtic star should be full of confidence after winning honour

At the recent Celtic player of the year awards, centre-back Stephen Welsh won the Academy Player of the Year award, given to those players that have come through the ranks at the club and made an impact at Celtic.

Welsh has been in and out of the Celtic side this season, but the fact that he has been recognised at the Hoops award ceremony should give the player confidence going forward next season.

The 22-year-old has played 23 games for the Bhoys this season, and for the most part has been third choice in defence behind the duo of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt.

That is understandable as that duo have been excellent for the Hoops this season. However, when he has filled in, Welsh has done well for the Bhoys, and he has been the Celtic player from the club’s academy that has featured most for the first-team this season.

It will be interesting to see just how often Welsh features for the Hoops next season. He will likely be third choice centre-back at the club if Carter-Vickers and Starfelt are still at the club. But as the player is under contract at Celtic until 2025, the club obviously feel that Welsh has a big future Celtic Park.

If Starfelt and Carter-Vickers had struggled this season, you would imagine that Welsh would be in the Celtic side more often, but that duo have helped the Bhoys achieve the best defensive record in the Premiership, so you can see how Welsh’s playing time has been limited.

One wonders if he will be tempted to ask Ange Postecoglou for a loan move at some stage in the future if Welsh does not get a run of games in the Celtic first-team, as he is at the age where he will be wanting to play regular football.

That could also depend on if Celtic sign another centre-back in the summer, it