Motherwell have officially confirmed that Stephen Welsh will return to Celtic following the end of his hugely successful loan spell at Fir Park.
The defender has enjoyed an outstanding season in Lanarkshire and leaves having firmly rebuilt both his reputation and confidence after a difficult period struggling for regular football at Celtic.
Welsh became a key figure for Jens Berthel Askou’s side as Motherwell secured a fourth-place finish and European football, with the centre-back earning widespread praise for his consistency and leadership across the campaign.
Given the level of his performances this season, there will even be some who feel unlucky not to see him included in Scotland’s World Cup squad.
Motherwell manager Askou – who himself has recently been linked with the Celtic job while also attracting interest from Toulouse in France – singled Welsh out for special praise as the club confirmed his departure.
He said to the official Motherwell site:
“Finally, we say goodbye to our loan player, Stephen Welsh, who has made an impressive impact on our team.
“His composure and intelligent defending have been vital for us, and he will be remembered for being a big part of this team.
“Thank you, Welshy, and good luck in the future.”
Welsh’s spell at Motherwell could hardly have gone much better from a personal perspective.
He became a fan favourite at Fir Park and played a massive role in one of the club’s strongest Premiership campaigns in recent years.
The big question now is what comes next.
Celtic’s defensive situation remains uncertain heading into the summer with several centre-backs facing unclear futures, while Martin O’Neill’s title-winning side are preparing for another major rebuild ahead of Champions League qualifiers.
After the season Welsh has just produced, he will likely feel he has earned another opportunity to fight for his place at Celtic or earn a good move away.
