Ex-Liverpool FC midfielder John Welsh signs for Tranmere Rovers

Jul 14 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER John Barnes increased Tranmere’s squad strength to 16 professionals when he signed former Liverpool midfielder John Welsh.

The one-time England under-21 international, who was released by Hull City this summer, had been training with Rovers for the past fortnight before signing yesterday.

Welsh should go into action tonight, when Tranmere kick off their pre-season programme with simultaneous friendlies against local amateur teams Cammell Laird and Heswall.

Both games kick off at 7pm. with Barnes splitting his professionals into two groups, to be supported by youth trainees and trialists.

Welsh, 25, is a graduate of the Anfield Academy who made his Liverpool first team debut at the age of 18 and posted seven senior appearances in the 2004/05 campaign.

He moved to Hull the following season, initially on loan and then on a permanent basis.

Last season Welsh struggled to hold down a place in Hull’s Premier League line-up and had loan spells with Carlisle in League One and Bury in League Two.

Barnes said: “I have watched John Welsh over the years and seen the type of player he is. He is hard-working, a good tackler and distributor of the ball.”

Welsh could form a central midfield partnership with Paul McLaren, the 32-year-old playmaker who rejoined Rovers at the weekend following a season with Bradford City.

Barnes said: “Central midfield is crucial in many respects to the way we want to play. Paul McLaren and John Welsh are two midfield players who can do the job I want them to do. They are the kind of players I like.”

Barnes admits the balance of his squad is currently weighted in favour of midfield and forward players and promises that goalkeepers and defenders are the priority as he pursues a number of loan signings.

He said: “If we could have signed defenders and a goalkeepers sooner we would have done so. We signed who was available and who we can afford.

“The problem with the loan signings is that their clubs want to keep those players for the first two weeks of pre-season training. Then they will decide if they’re going to release them on loan.

“As much as we would like to sort things out quickly it is in their hands. It’s not an ideal situation. When we get closer to the start of the season those clubs may say no. That’s always a concern.”

Barnes revealed Rovers are hoping to reach an agreement with Stoke City manager Tony Pulis over Ryan Shotton, the young defender who spent most of last season on loan at Prenton Park.

He said: “Tony has said we have to wait for the next two weeks and see how things go in terms of being able to take Ryan on loan. While it is looking hopeful and positive, it’s not going to be a done deal until Stoke say so.”

Barnes is taking a look at a trialist goalkeeper from the USA – Patrick Lane – and has earmarked a goalkeeper in the loan market. Other trialists are expected to be given a workout tonight. In the meantime, Barnes says he will be falling back on the versatility of the players in his squad.

He said: “Players will have to be flexible and do a job if they have to. If players have to play out of position then so be it – it’s not a problem for them.

“Gareth Edds is an example. In a practice match last week he played centre-back and he’ll probably play right-back this week. But Gareth is a midfield player.”

Assistant manager Jason McAteer will be in charge of the Tranmere side at Heswall with Barnes taking the team turning out at Cammell Laird.