There has been many shining lights to Celtic season this season.
From the signings of Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi, to the new style of football we are all enjoying to the refreshing approach to media duties that current boss, Ange Postecoglou has brought to the table.
But one of the main aspects of what I am enjoying this season is the emergence of talent that was already at the club.
Much has already been written about Anthony Ralston and with Josip Juranovic currently looking to steal his position in the team, there is one more central role that is up for grabs and that is in the heart of defence.
So far, young Stephen Welsh has done brilliantly marshalling that role alongside Carl Starfelt, but with Cameron Carter Vickers joining the club at the last minute and Christopher Julien due to return from injury next month, there needs to be a casualty to make space for the return of the big £7m defender and Paul John Dykes of A Celtic State of Mind reckons he knows who it may be, “I’ve got concerns that perhaps Ange Postecoglou doesn’t rate him as our first pick.
“I mean the first opportunity that he got to drop him he did drop him this season and that was obviously to bring in Nir Bitton.
“And I think going to Tynecastle and making that change and bringing in Starfelt at the same time was just too much. It was a bridge too far.
“And it’s going back to the point we made before, just throwing players together and saying, ‘Work it out’, you really are taking a chance there.
“I would have much preferred to have had Stephen Welsh at the heart of that defence. I mean they came through some really tough times against Midtjylland and I know lost the tie over the course of the two games.
“But I think Welsh equipped himself very, very well but the first opportunity that Ange Postecoglou got, he dropped him.
“And I’m now looking at this situation where we’ve got two centre halves to come in. We’ve got a brand new signing who comes with a bit a pedigree in Carter Vickers.
“We’ve then got potentially next month Julien coming in and I’m wondering if Stephen Welsh will be that fall guy.”
If that is the case, it would be very harsh on young Welsh who has been a standout so far this season. Yes he has made mistakes and is a bit raw around the edges but he is learning, and learning fast.
To lose his place would be gutting for the young man, but with over £4m spent on a Swedish international and an established US international defender waiting in the wings, who will partner Julien in the heart of that defence?
It’s not a decision I would fancy making.