Celtic defender hopes that he has seen off his run of freak injuries

Stephen Welsh is hoping that he is injury free after seeing out 2023 nursing the after effects of a dislocated shoulder, soothed by the pleasure of winning the Glasgow Derby.

After signing a new contract in August an ankle injury robbed the defender of almost four months but he returned in style to help secure a much needed Champions League win when Feyenoord were beaten in Matchday Six.

When Cameron Carter-Vickers was injured during the December 26 win at Dundee Welsh came off the bench with the big Derby countdown underway as soon as the final whistle blew in a 3-0 win.

Half an hour into the Derby match, and looking composed and comfortable alongside Liam Scales, the Academy graduate was again in the wars with a dislocated shoulder after his elbow struck the ground with force racing into a challenge.

A simple correction took place, now three weeks on Welsh is hoping to be injury free to play a significant role in the push for two trophies.

The Herald reports the defender saying:

I got a bit of a scare in the Rangers game but it turned out not to be as bad as we first thought.

The break definitely helped and having that week off after the St Mirren game. I’m back in training and available for selection.

It’s felt like one thing after another. I got a bad injury at the start of the season and needed to have a wee operation.

That costs me four or five months, but I got fit and got into the team again, and was doing pretty well until that happened against Rangers.

It wasn’t even muscle injuries – it was freak injuries out of nowhere you can’t do much about.

It’s obviously tough at the time and the journey back is hell. But you get through the other side and hopefully over the next few months I can stay clear of injury and get a run of games.

Being on media duty yesterday suggests that Welsh will start the match against Buckie Thistle with Scales probably ahead of Maik Nawrocki for the other berth.

With Carter-Vickers expected to be back in contention to face Ross County next Saturday Brendan Rodgers should have four strong options for two places in his side- provided the injury jinx that cursed the start of the season is cured.