Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has picked out Celtic star Cameron Carter-Vickers as a player he expects to have a strong showing at the World Cup in Qatar.
The ex-Spurs defender has had a stellar season so far for Celtic, standing in as captain in Callum McGregor’s absence through injury and being virtually ever-present when fit.
O’Neill believes it’s this consistency and the fact that he appears to have totally settled in Glasgow that gives Carter-Vickers the perfect platform to have a strong showing at the World Cup.
Speaking to The Sunday Post, he said: “Carter-Vickers has been brilliant at club level, and I can see him doing well in Qatar. After a few loan spells, he appears to have found his spiritual home at Parkhead. His defensive qualities are absolutely sound.
“He will know Kane well as they were team-mates at Spurs. So Cameron will look to put that knowledge to good use when they face each other on Friday.
“England have a hugely-talented squad, and Gareth Southgate does extremely well with them at tournaments but it will be just one of the many games that will grab me.”
O’Neill also picked his favourite for the Scottish Premiership title just before the halfway point of the season, and there won’t be too many surprised at who he’s tipped to win the trophy.
He said: “It’s a wonderful position for Celtic to be in right now, and Ange Postecoglou must be thrilled, but only 15 games have been played. It’s not even at the halfway stage yet. There may well be twists and turns to come, and you can never take anything for granted. It can all change very quickly.
“In my first season at Celtic, and in only my fifth league game, we beat Rangers 6-2 at Celtic Park, three months later, we lost 5-1 to them at Ibrox, so Ange will make sure the team is focused and in full concentration mode for every game. Avoiding complacency is the key.
“He doesn’t strike me as the type of manager to allow his players’ minds to wander, and for that reason I don’t see them losing top spot in the table.”
Few Celtic managers in recent memory have as much experience of title races as O’Neill, who was never out of the running before the final day in any of his five seasons in Glasgow.
Given Postecoglou’s demand for his players to be constantly at it, highlighted by his frustration at the performance in the Sydney friendly on Thursday, there are few better qualities for a manager in his position to have, as O’Neill highlights.
Given the imperious league form so far, Celtic could barely ask to be in a better position going back into the Scottish Premiership after the World Cup.
In other news: “Take my hat off to them”; Harry Kewell proud of Celtic stars after gruelling schedule
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