Celtic defender Stephen Welsh is looking to build on his breakthrough season as a first-team player as he and his teammates gear up for the 2021/22 season.
Speaking to Celtic TV, Welsh admitted that the early days of pre-season under Ange Postecoglou have been tough but will also be worth it in the long haul, as he prepares to build upon his performances as a Celtic player from last season.
“Pre-season training has been tough in this heat. It’s always going to be tough during pre-season, especially the first couple of weeks.
“I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m getting up to speed with everything and looking forward to the games ahead now.
“It’s been brilliant, really positive, and the sessions have been to a very high standard. It’s been very sharp and all football-based, which is exactly what you want as a player.
“You’re not stopping or hanging about. You’re doing one thing straight into the next, so the intensity is really good. The boys are working hard and trying to prove themselves, so it’s been a good start to the pre-season.
“I’m very much looking forward to the games,” said Welsh. “It’s good to get games under our belt against tough opposition in English Championship teams, so it’ll be a good test for us.
“They’re going to physical and good footballers as well, and that’s exactly what we need going into the Champions League qualifier.
“My aims are similar to last season in that I’m hoping for a consistent run of games. That starts with the pre-season friendlies and moves into the Champions League qualifiers. The games are going to come thick and fast, so I’ll need to be ready for the games because it’s going to be a tough load on everyone.”
Despite the performances as a whole for the Hoops, last season being far from good enough, Welsh was probably one of the only standout players.
In the latter stages of the campaign, Welsh made himself a regular in the Celtic side and going into next season; he will be looking to continue that under a new manager.
Of course, at this stage, we lack many options at the back. So, the 21-year old has quickly become one of the more senior players in that position and will need to be ready as we prepare to head into Champions League qualifiers later this month.
It is always good to see an academy prospect go on and do well in the first team. Fingers crossed, Welsh can continue to do that and build on his performances.
