---
title: "Celtic: Stephen Welsh fit for semi-final"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-stephen-welsh-fit-for-semi-final/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-11-19T17:15:30Z"
modified: "2021-11-19T17:15:30Z"
---

# Celtic: Stephen Welsh fit for semi-final

**Celtic defender Stephen Welsh has revealed he should be fit and available for selection against St Johnstone on Saturday, [The Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/stephen-welsh-brushes-celtic-injury-25483819) report.**

### The Lowdown: Injury scare…

Welsh made his [fifth](https://www.transfermarkt.com/stephen-welsh/nationalmannschaft/spieler/403568/verein_id/16868) and [sixth](https://www.transfermarkt.com/stephen-welsh/nationalmannschaft/spieler/403568/verein_id/16868) appearances for Scotland’s Under-21 side during the international break, captaining his country to a 2-0 win over Kazakhstan.

The 21-year-old kept his place in the side against Belgium on Tuesday, however, he [limped off](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-stephen-welsh-limps-off-for-scotland-under-21s/) with minutes remaining, with St Johnstone man Glenn Middleton also needing to be withdrawn due to injury.

That left both players’ availability for the League Cup semi-final in doubt, but it now seems as if the Celtic man will be ready to go at Hampden Park.

[Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-16/)

### The Latest: Welsh’s comments

Welsh, labelled as [‘excellent’](https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/10/blogs/scottish-premier-league/celtic-pundit-praises-stephen-welsh/) by pundit Paul John Dykes, was talking to the [media](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/stephen-welsh-brushes-celtic-injury-25483819) and addressed his recent knock, admitting he was replaced as a precaution and labelled the knock as an ‘impact’ injury.

> “I’m fine. It was a knock when their player had a shot and followed through on us, but I just came off as a precaution. I’ll be fine for the weekend.
>
> “You’re always worried when you feel a bit of pain, but luckily it wasn’t a twist or anything. It was just pure impact so I should be fine.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375302″\]

### The Verdict: Relief…

Ange Postecoglou has [confirmed](https://twitter.com/AlisonGConroy/status/1461322755551506435) that summer signing Carl Starfelt, along with Tom Rogic and Giorgos Giakoumakis, probably won’t be fit for the League Cup semi-final on Saturday, and with [Christopher Jullien](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/christopher-jullien-sees-celtic-light-25045884) also still sidelined, having Welsh fit is great news.

He’s been the player who has [filled](https://www.transfermarkt.com/stephen-welsh/leistungsdaten/spieler/403568) in for Starfelt prior to the international break in wins over Ferencvaros and Dundee, so you’d expect he could once again partner Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back.

If he doesn’t quite make it, Postecoglou may have to turn to the experience of versatile ace [Nir Bitton](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdaten/spieler/129788), as summer signings [Liam Scales](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-scales/leistungsdaten/spieler/439497) and [Osaze Urhoghide](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/osaze-urhoghide/leistungsdaten/spieler/491738) are yet to start a senior game in green and white.

***In other news: [Ange now wants to sign another forward for Celtic in January; came through same academy as Rogic.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-hoops-still-keen-on-siriki-dembele/)***