Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish has sang the praises of Cameron Carter-Vickers and how the defender has handled the captain’s armband in the extended absence of Callum McGregor.
The captain’s injury against RB Leipzig ruling him out until the World Cup initially seemed like a hammer blow to Celtic’s season across four competitions, but barring a 2-0 home defeat in the return fixture against Marco Rose’s side, Ange Postecoglou’s team have managed to cope without McGregor, at least so far.
Although Joe Hart has usually taken on the captaincy in the rare instances in which McGregor has missed a game prior to his recent injury, Carter-Vickers has taken on the role for the last five games – with Dalglish feeling that the leadership role suits the USA international.
He wrote in his Sunday Post column: “I have been impressed with the way Cameron Carter-Vickers has handled the captaincy. some guys can find the armband too much of a weight to carry around. But the American defender has risen to the challenge – and excelled.
“He has led by example, and there is no doubt he is a top-quality defender. Carter-Vickers has ability, but also an exemplary attitude, and that can help take you far in football.
“If Celtic are to get a positive result on Tuesday night, they will need Cameron and all of his team-mates right on it.”
Dalglish was, of course, referring to Celtic’s upcoming Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk, in which the Hoops require a win to have any realistic chance of securing European football after Christmas, with the former manager feeling that third place in Group F would represent a good innings on Celtic’s return to the competition.
He wrote: “Finishing in third place would be a perfectly acceptable achievement. It means a crack at the Europa League, and the Hoops would have nothing to fear in that competition.
“However, they still have lots of work to do in their next two European games. It will take an almighty effort to get three or four more points on the board.
“But if they can start to take their chances in Europe – and keep some gas in the tank for the final 20 minutes of the games – then they will have a right good chance.”
Carter-Vickers’ form has been crucial for Celtic in a critical spell for the club, with significant fixture congestion before the World Cup next month, particularly in the continued absence of Carl Starfelt through injury.
Though both he and central defensive partner Moritz Jenz conceded a penalty each in yesterday’s chaotic 4-3 win at Tynecastle, this was hopefully just a blip in what’s been a steady few weeks defensively for Celtic, their first clean sheet in a month coming in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Motherwell at Fir Park in the Premier Sports Cup.
Carter-Vickers will be just one of many who will need to show their best on Tuesday for the visit of Shakhtar, as Celtic will look to record their first Champions League group stage win at home in nine years.
In other news: Celtic stars lead tributes to retiring club icon Nakamura after incredible 26-year career
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