Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says Stephen Welsh can benefit from loan move

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes Stephen Welsh’s proposed loan move to Mechelen would be good for the defender’s career.

Welsh is expected to complete a loan move to the Belgian side this week after struggling for game time this season.

The 24-year-old has only played twice this term, having made 66 appearances up until the summer.

Rodgers said: “Stephen’s a player that’s pretty much been a part of the fabric of this club for so many years. He’s one of the guys that helps create the culture because they’ve come through the system.

“But there also comes a time when they need to look at their own career. So there’s a possibility that he’ll go out on loan, it’s not confirmed yet.”

Celtic recalled Dane Murray from a loan spell at Queen’s Park after the January transfer window opened, a move which paved the way for Welsh to depart given they play in the same position and the 21-year-old can help fill the club’s quota of homegrown players for their Champions League squad.

“We’ve brought Dane back for that purpose,” Rodgers said. “He’s a young player that I really thought highly of, the bits I’d seen of him.

“He obviously had horrendous spell with injuries and we sent him to Queen’s Park, where Callum (Davidson) and his team and the club done a brilliant job with him to ease him in.

“After a long injury period out, he virtually trained every day and got really good coaching. It was a fantastic club there.”

On the general transfer front, Rodgers added that there were “a few little bits and pieces going on in the background, both ins and outs, but nothing to declare as of yet”.