Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Welsh boosted by Celtic return
Championship prize for Coatbridge star
Celtic star Stephenwelsh saysit wasa massiveconfidence boost for him to go straight back intothe team after recovering from a foot injury.
The Coatbridge man took a“bang on theankle”according to boss Neil Lennon in a 4-0 midweekwin over St Mirren, and missed the next game, whichwas a 2-1 victory at St Johnstone.
However, the21-year-olddefender regainedhis place fora 1-0 midweekwin overaberdeen, and admits he waslucky that his foot injurywasn’t more serious.
The former Standrew’s High pupil says it is also a massive boost to his confidence to besuch an integral part of the first team at Celtic Park.
He said:“it was probably a wee bit fortunate because I thought Iwas going to miss a bit more than one game buti cameoutof it withnot a lot ofharm done, so Iwas just happy to be back in within a fewdays.
“I wantto beavailable foreverygame, and to be put back ingives me a lot of confidence as well.
“Training is always high-tempo,good pace. Everyone’s fighting for positions, competitionfor places is massive here, especiallywith thesizeof squadwe have.
“There’s a lot of quality in every position, everyone’s battling to try and play and whenyou’reinyouneed to take yourchance.
“Whenyouget broughtintothe team and they start winning it’sa big confidence boost, especially whenwe’re keeping clean sheets.
“Whenyouget a run ofgames it gives you a lot of confidence to playwell.to play a lot ofgames for Celtic is whati wantto do.”
Coatbridge man Connor Shields is thriving at Queen of the South after moving to his favoured position.
The 23 year-old won the Championship player of the month for January after smashing consecutive braces at the start of the year against Ayr United and Arbroath.
The former Albion Rovers star has been deployed as a winger at other clubs but he revealed just how much of an impact playing up front had made.
He said: “I scored more goals in January than I had in the last two years on-loan at Aldershot and Alloa.
“It shows how much of a difference there is playing through the middle. I just feel that I can run both ways and I think I’m more effective for the team - getting goals and assists.
“I feel more restricted playing wide and I’m limited to just one side. It suits me up top because there is more space and I like running in behind. I’m a completely different player playing up front.”
Shields’ form after Christmas was nothing short of sensational. He scored seven goals in five games in all competitions as he displayed the form that earned him a move to English giants Sunderland.
Shields, modestly, admitted that his award is testament to the support of his teammates but he conceded that it’s gratifying that his performances have been rewarded.
He said: “I’d scored four goals in the first two games of the month but failed to score against Morton. I was delighted to get it because I was on a great run of form, it’s great for myself to look back on when my career’s finished.
“It’s good for the club too because all the boys were a huge part of me winning it.”
“We were having a laugh about it but they kept saying that I had the chance to win it. It was getting towards the end of the month and I kept playing it down but obviously, you want to win it.
“We were having a joke about the award but you do want that recognition for your performances. All the boys were buzzing for me when it was announced because it’s also an award for the team for the brilliant run we’ve been on.”
Queen’s manager Allan
Johnston, who wonmanagerof the monthfor January, moved Shields to a more central role after injury to club legend Stephen Dobbie.
Shieldsadded:“after Stephen Dobbie gotinjured, it gave methe chance to play through the middleand that’s my preferredposition.
“The gaffer started to use meas strikeronce Dobbie was unavailable.i started in the middleagainstdundee and he kept methere because Ikept scoring!
“Unfortunately, I’ve beenplaying as a winger across the last few seasons but I’vetaken my chance now and hopefully it’s paid off. It’s frustrating that I’m injurednowbecause Iwasina brilliantrun ofform.”
Shields is currently sidelinedwith an injury butthe Doonhamers are flying i n the league despite hisabsence.
After a difficult start to the season, theymoved into 4thplace at the weekend after a 3-2 win overdundee and it’s been quite theturnaround in results.
Shieldsexplained:“hearts, Dundee and Inverness are all Premiership teams really and we’ve picked up sevenpoints outofnine - that’s brilliant.
“It’sespecially impressive as they all beat us previously - 3-0 v Inverness, 3-1 v Dundeeand 6-1 against Hearts - so it showstheimprovement.
“Confidence is through the roof just now, as it shouldbe whenwe’re playing so well.”