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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that star defender Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss the game against Rangers, but he is confident that Stephen Welsh is in a position to make an eye-opening impact.
The 25-year-old limped against Dundee and fears grew over his availability after he failed to turn up for education ahead of the table war against Ibrox. And now the Irishman has shown the worst fears about Carter-Vickers, with The Welshman starting alongside Liam Scales in the center of Celtic’s defence. The stakes are high for the Premiership champions, who know they will have an eight-point lead heading into the new year if they beat their fierce rivals at home.
Philippe Clément’s team will have two games in hand, but the opportunity to make their merit greater would be welcomed through those who have a Celtic orientation. And the 50-year-old, speaking of a Premiership match, has only lost once in 14. – was in a positive frame of mind despite the blow taken by Carter-Vickers. He said: “He possibly won’t be available for the next few games. Not long-term, but we’re probably just going to see it after the break.
“I always think it is an opportunity for someone else. Like we had in the last game with Gustaf and Liam Scales, for the likes of Liam it was the making of him. It’s always a sadness when you lose a top player but hopefully it’s not too long a time and he can stay clear of injury for the second part of the season.”
And Rodgers admits he is bullish in the ability of Welsh to shine if opportunity presents itself to start alongside Scales in the white-hot derby atmosphere and admits he has been a long-term admirer. He added: “Stephen played against Feyenoord and played very well. I’ve really liked seeing him, I brought him with me when he was a young player first time round. He was only a kid then but he has really matured and he’s not played as much as he would have liked, but only because of the form of Cam and and Carl Starfelt when he was here.
“But he’s always been there as a loyal support to play and I know I can trust him when I put him in. If he is the guy who gets to play then I have got every faith he can perform.”
Rodgers also showed that Liel Abada and Reo Hatate are on their way to making the opposite team to the Rangers. He said: “They’ve been training, Liel, a bit more, we don’t need to rush them, but if they do well today, tomorrow they’ll be in the team. “