It’s going to be a long, gruelling and painful trip back for the Celtic players following their showing in Kazakhstan on Tuesday night.
Cameron Carter-Vickers started Celtic’s penalty shootout defeat to Kairat Almaty, which led to their Champions League exit, after a goalless two legs.
Going back to last season, mainly the second half of the campaign and the start of this season, the performances of Carter-Vickers have to be questioned because he hasn’t been at his usual best.
And whilst Celtic were heading to extra time in Almaty, news dropped from his home country in America, and it’s not good viewing for the hard-hitting centre-back.
Mauricio Pochettino snubs Cameron Carter-Vickers from the USMNT squad
Carter-Vickers has been left out of the USMNT’s squad for their September international matches against South Korea and Japan.
Whilst Auston Trusty has also been left out, he is currently injured, and the extent of his issues isn’t yet known, but he hasn’t exactly been pulling up any trees either.
It’s not good news for the Celtic duo, who were also left out of the Gold Cup squad this summer, even though manager Mauricio Pochettino left out many European players after their gruelling campaign.
Five defenders from the MLS have been picked ahead of Carter-Vickers, including 37-year-old Tim Ream, formerly of Fulham, and now playing for Dean Smith’s high-flying Charlotte FC.
Carter-Vickers’ record for the USMNT as Celtic star faces fight for 2026 World Cup spot
Ange Postecoglou signed Carter-Vickers from Tottenham Hotspur in 2021 on a loan deal, which turned into a permanent transfer.
During that period, the 27-year-old has been outstanding for Scotland’s most successful club, but he hasn’t been able to replicate that on the international stage.
And, with the 2026 World Cup around the corner, which the United States of America will co-host alongside Mexico and Canada, this probably indicates that Carter-Vickers won’t be competing on world football’s biggest stage next summer.
- Carter-Vickers’ games for USMNT: 19
- Starts: 12
- From the bench: 7
- Unused sub: 5
- Goals conceded: 22
- Clean Sheets: 7
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