Celtic’s defence has been all over the shop this season, but they will have to toil ahead because the fixture list remains relentless.
It could be argued that it has been the biggest area of concern, and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ absence has played a huge part.
As Ally McCoist put it brilliantly, Carter-Vickers has been a ‘big miss’ for the Hoops, and an even bigger loss than Arne Engels, who is currently sidelined.
Whether it’s Brendan Rodgers, Wilfried Nancy or Martin O’Neill in the Celtic Park dugout, they have had to deal with limited options at the heart of defence, and it has proven to be a struggle.
Where in the list of Celtic defenders would you place Luke Graham?
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been a ‘big miss’ for Celtic
It’s highly unlikely that Carter-Vickers returns from his achilles tendon injury this season, and it also means he will miss the 2026 World Cup, which takes place in his home country of the United States of America.
Either way, speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist was reacting to the news of Engels’ injury and how he is going to be sidelined for around six weeks.
Whilst the former Scotland striker thinks that will be a blow, he doesn’t think it’s a bigger miss than the ‘calming influence’ of Carter-Vickers.
“Engels is a key player for them,” said McCoist. “He has scored some good goals.
“The big miss. I don’t care what anybody says. The big miss is, for me, Carter-Vickers at the centre of defence.
“Obviously, Alistair Johnston is missing as well. Carter-Vickers at centre-half, I think, gives them more of a calming influence.”
Celtic team ‘doesn’t really scare you’
Celtic have produced numerous late shows without really playing well, as the games at Rugby Park and against Dundee in the Scottish Cup showed.
But the fact of the matter is, Celtic are still in a title race, and O’Neill is dragging this team over the line with everything he has got.
Either way, McCoist doesn’t think this current Celtic side scares you.
“You look at the Celtic team right now, and it doesn’t really scare you, to be honest with you, at all,” claimed McCoist.
“The Glasgow derbies will look after themselves.”
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