Latest news with #StephenWelsh
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Returning Celtic loanee's stock soars as Brendan Rodgers shuffles transfer cards
The Hoops are bruising from their Scottish Cup Final defeat but planning for next season is already underway Returning Celt Stephen Welsh sent a timely reminder to Brendan Rodgers of his talents after signing off his loan stint in style. The Hoops defender joined Belgium outfit Mechelen for the remainder of the season in January after falling out of the picture at Parkhead. And the centre-back has caught the eye in the Pro League, making 17 appearances and helping the club to a respectable mid-table finish. Crucially, the Celtic academy graduate started every game in the Conference League playoff group as Mechelen narrowly missed out on a European place. The Coatbridge-born Bhoy repaid his manager's faith by scoring in Sunday's 2-2 draw away to Dender, earning Man of the Match in what could be his final appearance for the club. Welsh - under contract until 2027 - is due to report back to Lennoxtown for pre-season training at the end of June. His displays on loan will have done his chances of resurrecting his Celts career no harm in what could be a defining summer for the 25-year-old. Meanwhile, out-of-contract Aberdeen keeper Ross Doohan is set to re-join Celtic. The 27-year-old came through the ranks at Parkhead but left for Tranmere Rovers in 2023 in pursuit of more first-team football. He later joined Forest Green Rovers before ending up at Pittodrie, where he has deputised for No1 Dimitar Mitov. However, Record Sport understands Rodgers has sanctioned a return for the shotstopper as a replacement for third-choice Scott Bain, who is poised to leave this summer. As a homegrown Scottish keeper, Doohan fits the bill to fill Celtic's European quota and provides cover for Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo. Elsewhere, long-term target Mathias Kvistgaarden appeared to bid farewell to Brondby after being given an emotional send-off by fans in the final Danish Superliga game of the season. But boss Benjamin Schmedes has thrown a spanner in the works by hinting that the outgoing 23-goal hitman is destined to play in one of Europe's top five leagues. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
The National
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
I'm a Celtic outcast, here's my plan to be at 2026 World Cup
The Australian winger is currently enjoying a temporary spell at Melbourne City back in his homeland. Tilio has very much impressed for City this year, scoring four goals and assisting three in 15 A-League appearances. Read more: He is due back at Parkhead this summer, although he has only ever made two appearances in green and white. Regardless, Tilio aims to make an impact in Glasgow's east end and has outlined his ambitions to play at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. "I'd hope to say I'll be playing consistently over in Europe," he said when asked by Optus Sport where he sees himself in a year's time. "We'll see, but that's where my head is at." Then, quizzed on whether he aims to play at the next World Cup, Tilio stated: "Of course, that would be the plan. "I've got to do everything up until then to make sure I'm up for selection." Elsewhere, Stephen Welsh, also out on loan from Celtic, has assured those at the club he will return an improved player this summer: "100 per cent," he said [Record]. "Tactically, technically I am better and I am also a lot fitter with the regular game time and being up to speed playing every week. "I will also be going back much improved having played regularly in one of Europe's top leagues. "Whatever happens I am going back as a better player and person. I have also matured a lot, living away from and outside of Glasgow. "It has been good going to a club where I know if I do well I will play. "It has given me a lot of confidence to go out and play and show I can be an important member of a team."
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stephen Welsh tells Celtic they're getting an upgrade as matches in Belgium trump medals in Glasgow for now
Welsh has established himself as a regular at KV Mechelen and insists heading out on loan is the best thing he's ever done Stephen Welsh is in no doubt he will be returning to Celtic a far better player this summer. The young defender is currently benefiting from a fruitful loan at KV Mechelen. Welsh might have missed out on the Hoops' 55th title clincher at the weekend but he did hit his own personal ton. He made his 100th senior appearance in the 2-2 draw at Westerlo and it was all part of his grand masterplan to get games when he asked Brendan Rodgers to go out on loan in the January window. Welsh, speaking in an exclusive interview with Record Sport, said: '100% I will go back to Celtic as a better player. 'Tactically, technically I am better and I am also a lot fitter with the regular game time and being up to speed playing every week. 'I will also be going back much improved having played regularly in one of Europe's top leagues. 'Whatever happens I am going back as a better player and person. I have also matured a lot, living away from and outside of Glasgow. 'It has been good going to a club where I know if I do well I will play. 'It has given me a lot of confidence to go out and play and show I can be an important member of a team.' Mechelen and the talented 25-year-old still have four games of the season left. There is still an outside chance they could pip Charleroi to a Europa Conference League place. Welsh is not looking beyond that or what might be next season. He admitted: 'I am just thinking about these last four games and playing as well as I can. 'We will probably need to win them all if we want to finish top of our section and to qualify for Europe. 'We will see what happens in the summer. I will obviously go back to Celtic. 'I have two years left and so the plan is to go back to Celtic. I will go back to pre-season and see what happens from there on. 'I have spoken to Darren O'Dea and John Kennedy a few times, asking me how I am getting on. I just like to get my head down and get on with it, as I have done throughout my career.' Welsh might have missed out on a league and Premier Sports Cup double and potentially a treble, but Welsh knew at this stage of his career he needed regular game time. It helped that Mechelen had been long-term admirers and had been chasing him since the summer. Welsh stated: 'I have loved every minute of it. I think it is the best thing I have done, it is almost like a refresh for six months to go and play football at a top level. 'I wanted to go out on loan a couple of months before January. I had it in my head that if I wasn't going to play at Celtic then I needed to go and play elsewhere. 'Mechelen actually came in for me in the summer and Celtic knocked it back. So, I knew there was an interest and they were still looking for a centre half when I became available.' Welsh knew the quality of the Belgian Pro League when he watched Celtic take on Club Brugge in the Champions League from the bench. He stated: 'I was a no-brainer for me because the Belgian league is a top league. We also played Club Brugge in the Champions League and they were unbelievable. 'It is not until you play here that you see the quality. The level has been even higher than I thought it would be, coming up against some top teams and players. 'I think in the first few games we played the top four teams in the league and that is where I immediately saw what I was coming into.' Welsh joked that he felt very much at home when he made his debut in Mechelen. They also take to the field to a Celtic anthem at the AFAS Stadium He said: 'You'll Never Walk Alone, we sing that before games. I didn't know that. 'I was standing in the tunnel for our first home game and it came on. 'I was bizarre but I think a few teams across Europe now play that as well. 'We also have: 'You'll never work alone' across the stadium but that is down to one of our sponsors.' It hasn't been all plain sailing at KV Mechelen. Frederik Vanderbiest stepped up to replace Besnik Hasi as manager in March. It has worked in Welsh's favour as he has played regularly. 'The style of play is really good and we play good football,' the Celtic academy graduate claimed. 'I saw we had real quality players and we just needed someone to make us click as a team. 'The manager found a system to get the best out of the players and we went on a run. 'The highlight for me is that I have started the last seven games in a row now. The reason why I came here was to play as many games as I can. 'It was my 100th game on Saturday. I would have liked to have done it earlier but, as a centre half, you can play until your late 30s, so hopefully I will have plenty of years ahead of me. 'I'm sure I will have plenty more centuries to come.' Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
