McCart happy to see Welsh make grade at Parkhead
ESTABLISHED at St Johnstone and with a League Cup final to look forward to later this month, Jamie McCart knows his decision to get out of Celtic has been fully vindicated. Yet as he thrives at McDiarmid Park, he sees no contradiction in admiring Stephen Welsh for digging in and waiting patiently for his breakthrough.
A budding star of the Parkhead academy and son of youth chief Chris McCart, the 23-year-old grew up at Celtic but left in 2018 having made just one competitive first-team appearance under Brendan Rodgers.
Prior to this season Welsh, 21, was stuck on the same number but injuries, Covid and the team’s wretched form have all conspired to give him a run in the side.
Substituted with a bruised ankle in the midweek win at St Mirren, Welsh will make his 10th appearance of the season at McDiarmid Park this afternoon if he can prove his fitness.
Regardless, McCart (above) tips his hat to the youngster for making an impression in a trying season.
He said: ‘The ideal scenario for everyone is to be Kieran Tierney, get in at a good age and keep building up on that.
‘I think Stephen will be delighted that he has now got there and, hopefully, he can stay in the team.
‘Personally, I needed to leave. I had a wee bit of a chance when Brendan first came in but I knew in the last year of my contract that I had to restart my career.
‘I needed to drop down and get playing time because when you are at a club like that, the only thing that matters to other teams is how many first-team appearances you have.’
For McCart, a loan at Alloa Athletic provided game-time before he made a permanent move to Inverness Caley Thistle.
Welsh (right), too, spent the first half of last season on loan at Morton but has been pitched into an entirely different scenario by Neil Lennon this term.
‘I think he has done brilliantly and it’s good for
Celtic to have another youth player break through,’ continued McCart. ‘Maybe the further back on the park you go, the more difficult it is.
‘Goalkeepers and centrebacks have a tough role, it’s about responsibility and experience.
‘It’s like that everywhere, it’s just the importance of the position on the pitch. I think it’s hardest for goalkeepers because one mistake or even a bit of vulnerability and everyone is on you.’
It’s been a year since McCart accepted Tommy Wright’s invitation to move from Inverness to Perth. Now established on the left side of Saints’ back three under Wright’s successor Callum Davidson, McCart is clearly enjoying his football.
He — as well as his sidekicks Liam Gordon and Jason Kerr — enjoys the full backing of his new boss.
‘The defence has been the most pleasing thing this whole season,’ said Davidson. ‘I haven’t changed my formation and that’s down to the performances of those three players.
‘Jamie is left-sided and those types of defenders are hard to come by. It gives you great balance in that back three. It’s important that the outside one on the left side can step in or play diagonals and has a good range of passing.
‘Jamie has been excellent in the last four or five games, even better than he has been in the rest of the season. One of the star performers of the season so far.’
Capped 19 times by Scotland in his own playing career, Davidson sees international potential in McCart, Gordon and Kerr. ‘Without a doubt,’ he added. ‘Liam was probably just a little bit behind the others but playing in the middle of a back three he’s been outstanding — you hear his voice, his communication levels are extremely high. ‘The only problem for Jamie is that we are blessed in Scotland with a quite a few good left-sided defenders and Jason is one of those players who has the ability to step in and play. ‘Jason played over 80 games for East Fife, people forget that. He wanted to go out and play as an 18-year-old boy. ‘The performance levels of those three have been so good and they can go on higher. Hopefully I can help them get there.’