Cameron Carter-Vickers didn’t travel for international duty during this past week amid his injury troubles for Celtic.
The 26-year-old doesn’t have any current issues, but he was absent for Celtic’s win over Kilmarnock before the international break.
Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Carter-Vickers will be ready for Celtic’s trip to Tynecastle to take on Hearts this Saturday evening.
In the meantime, the hard-hitting defender has missed two crucial games with his new international manager, Mauricio Pochettino.
With the USA main eventing and co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, bringing in a manager of Pochettino’s ilk is a big thing for the nation.
So far, he has got off to a brilliant start, winning three matches and only losing away to Mexico in a friendly encounter.
But as the USA continued to win under Pochettino, the man charging out from the back for Celtic was disrespected on American TV.
Cameron Carter-Vickers not seen as a future USMNT centre-back
America beat Jamaica over two legs in their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final this week, with Auston Trusty an unused substitute.
The two men selected to start at the heart of the defence were 37-year-old Tim Ream – now playing in the MLS and Toulouse defender, Mark McKenzie.
When CBS pundits were discussing who could be the long-term solution to Ream, McKenzie and Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards were seen as the future, with CCV snubbed in a disrespectful manner.
It needs to be noted that Carter-Vickers is playing in the Champions League, the only American defender to do so, and that is for a team pushing for a top-eight spot.
On top of that, the Bhoys haven’t lost a game on the domestic circuit this term and they are smashing everything and everyone ahead of them.
Ex-USMNT international Charlie Davies: “The only player in that position that we want to see partner with Mark McKenzie, who I think is on the up is Chris Richards. And he hasn’t been healthy.
“In a perfect scenario because, Chris Richards, if he is playing at Crystal Palace and playing well. Palace aren’t doing so well, then you are saying those two players are the future in the position right now.”
Davies was then asked by his fellow pundit ‘CCV’ to which he responded: “No,” in a blunt fashion. “Mark McKenzie and Chris Richards.”
Carter-Vickers’ past links with Mauricio Pochettino
Carter-Vickers was on Tottenham’s books as a youngster when Pochettino was in charge, but he didn’t make the grade under the Argentine.
In truth, he didn’t make the grade in the Premier League or at Spurs full stop.
But the fact that Pochettino knows the Celtic man from his past should be a boost, added to the fact that his game has grown in recent years and he is playing in Europe’s elite competition.
The year 2025 is going to be very important for CCV because, if he can stay fit, then there is no reason why he can’t take over from Ream as the senior guy at the back for his country.
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