Pundit names two players set for Celtic summer exit

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The Celtic Star

·27 avril 2025

Pundit names two players set for Celtic summer exit

John Hartson has suggested that two current Celtic stars should move on this summer and seek new employment…

Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership 29/03/2025. Maik Nawrocki of Celtic during the match at Celtic Park, on 29 March 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh both could leave Celtic this summer

The pair in question is Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh, both of whom have been well and truly out of the picture at Parkhead for some time now, barring the odd, sporadic outing for either to cover injury and illness.

Vidéos OneFootball

Stephen Welsh, defender of KV Mechelen controls the ball during the Jupiler Pro League match between KV Mechelen and KAA Gent on February 7, 2025 in Mechelen, Belgium, 07 02 2025 Mechelen. Photo Nico Vereecken

Scottish central defender Welsh, who is currently on loan to KV Mechelen in the Belgian Pro League, came through the youth system at the Scottish champions and many held high hopes that he could one day be a mainstay. However, it’s just not worked out that way for the 25-year-old and he was shipped out on loan by Brendan Rodgers to get him minutes, as he can ill-afford a lack of them at his age and needs to be playing consistently now.

Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership 29/03/2025. Maik Nawrocki of Celtic during the match at Celtic Park, on 29 March 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Moreover, Polish star Nawrocki, who is just a mere one-year younger than his teammate Welsh, has rarely been seen in these parts following a multi-million pound move from Legia Warsaw in his homeland a couple of seasons back. Along with Gustaf Lagerbielke, Brendan Rodgers just hasn’t fancied him at Celtic Park and barring the most intermittent of opportunities, Maik has largely been in the shadows at Lennoxtown.

Mechelen’s Stephen Welsh during a match between KV Mechelen and KAA Gent, Friday 07 February 2025 in Mechelen in the Jupiler Pro League first division of the Belgian championship. Photo BRUNO FAHY

Celtic legend, Hartson, reckons both men need to move on soon for the sake of their careers in the game. “Welsh, I think, is up against it, because of some of the other centre-backs. But the good thing for Celtic is that they have two or three options for every position, so they can mix the team up quite regularly. For me, the ones who are on the fringes, and aren’t playing every single weekend, don’t ever look like they are ever going to be regulars. You have got to look to move them on, not just for Celtic, but for their careers as well.”

Stephen Welsh at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Welshman continued to question why Nawrocki would wish to hang around in the current circumstances, adding whilst on The Go Radio Football Show: “He (Nawrocki) came in and I think he has played one game since that. It’s about playing, being involved, and making an impact on the team, in some way or another. If I am out in the cold, I want to go. Why would I want to stay somewhere where I am not playing every week?”

The Go Radio Football Show

Paul Gillespie

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