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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Steven Mair

Celtic team 'leaked' as Stephen Welsh earns 'shock' Rangers start alongside Patryk Klimala

A 'leaked' Celtic line-up claims academy graduate Stephen Welsh will start against Rangers in Saturday's showdown at Parkhead.

The 20-year-old defender hasn't played since an away to Hamilton back in February - his competitive senior debut in green and white.

According to the 'leaked' team circulating online, Welsh will play in a back three alongside Shane Duffy and Kris Ajer with no place for Christopher Jullien. Jeremie Frimpong and debutant Diego Laxalt start at wing-back.

It's claimed Olivier Ntcham will join Callum McGregor and Scott Brown in midfield with conflicting reports on who will partner Patryk Klimala up-front.

Albian Ajeti is earmarked to start in one line-up with another stating it is Moi Elyounoussi who will join the Poland U21 star at the top end of the pitch.

That means there would be no place for Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths in the starting XI with both in the mix to make an appearance from the bench.

The Klimala nod comes after Celtic icon Chris Sutton backed the 22-year-old to get the nod after some impressive cameo displays.

Speaking to the Record Celtic podcast, he said: "If I'm honest, when I first saw Klimala, I didn't think that he was anywhere near up to the mark.

(Ross Parker/SNS Group)

"But he's growing on me and I think he's growing on the Celtic fans. They know they're going to get a good, honest shift in, they know that he can be nuisance value.

"I think his finishing can improve, but I like how he's improving in a Celtic jersey. So if you're asking me at this moment in time who is going to start up top, I think it will be Patryk Klimala."

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