Stephen Welsh gives Celtic injury boost for Rangers as defender nears quickfire training return

Stephen Welsh is set to give double-chasing Celtic a Scottish Cup final boost by returning to training this week.

The defender had looked to be ruled out of the Hampden clash with Rangers after coming out of the Scottish Premiership trophy day win over St Mirren with a shoulder injury. Welsh only lasted 35 minutes in that game and it was believed he would be out of Saturday’s finale with the Light Blues. The 24-year-old had a scan earlier this week and he has been given the green light to return to training at Lennoxtown later this week.

Welsh is already back doing light training and is expected, providing there is no reaction, to return to training with Brendan Rodgers’ side over the next 24 hours. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales have been Celtic’s first-choice defensive partnership this season and are likely to come back in for the Rangers game.

Welsh is more likely to be on the bench along with Mark Nawrocki, who partnered him against St Mirren. He has been linked with a move to join former boss Neil Lennon at Rapid Bucharest but that has been dismissed by Celtic sources.

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