The lack of bodies in the Celtic defence was a major talking point ahead of the Champions League group stage game against RB Leipzig, as both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt, Celtic’s first choice centre-backs, both missed the games due to injury, meaning that Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh started for the Bhoys in Germany.

The Hoops lost the game 3-1, but Welsh in particular can be proud of how he performed for the Bhoys in his first ever Champions League group stage start for Celtic.

Steve Welsh/Getty Images Sport

The 22-year-old was put under pressure during the game, but seemed to cope with it better than his centre-back partner Jenz, who didn’t have the best of games for the Hoops. Welsh had a better game for the Bhoys, and the statistics support that.

WhoScored.Com shows that Welsh had a total of six clearances for the Hoops against Leipzig, which is more than any other player had for the Bhoys on the night. He also contributed one blocked shot and one interception. The key to his performance is that he kept it simple, and didn’t try to be anything other than a defender.

Welsh probably won’t be satisfied with his performance as Celtic lost the game, but he should be, as Welsh did show enough on the night that he deserves a chance to show that he can put together a run of good performances for the Bhoys.

It is fair to say that Welsh has struggled at times when he has featured for Celtic this season, but he showed that he could have a long-term future at the Hoops with his display in Germany.

Obviously when Carter-Vickers and Starfelt are fit they will be Celtic’s first choice centre-backs, but that might not be for a while yet, and as it stands there is no indication when they will return to the Celtic starting line-up, which means that Welsh is almost certain to keep his place in the team, with the Hoops facing St Johnstone in an important league match at the weekend.

Steve Welsh/Getty Images Sport

For Welsh to build on his display against Leipzig, he will be looking to help the Hoops keep a clean sheet in Perth, as the Bhoys haven’t kept one in their last five games in all competitions.

If Welsh matches his performance in Leipzig versus St Johnstone, but this time helps Celtic to a win, it can only boost the player’s confidence ahead of the challenges that lie ahead, such as the return match against Leipzig at Celtic Park on the 11th of October.