Stuart Kettlewell says Celtic have a defender who has incredible pace

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Stuart Kettlewell has been waxing lyrical about Cameron Carter-Vickers this week as the Motherwell manager cast his eye over the Celtic team.

Kettlewell watched his side go down to a 3-1 defeat to Celtic just under two weeks ago and the ‘Well gaffer couldn’t help but admire the performance of the US defender.

Carter-Vickers came on as a second-half substitute at time when Celtic were struggling defensively. Motherwell were continually catching us out with their pace as Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales struggled against Theo Bair.

But the introduction of Carter-Vickers changed all that and Kettlewell recognised how the incredible pace that the American international has at his disposal changed the game in Celtic’s favour.

Kettlewell said [PLZ Soccer], “But the other one I would say is Carter-Vickers for me. I think they brought him on against us in the in the second half.

“For me the difference [in the Celtic team] again without being disrespectful it’s just that I think he’s a top, top player.

“Recovery, pace, dominates, plays well on the ball and it changed the game I felt. And you don’t often say that bringing on a centre back that it’s completely changed the game.

“But I think it did for Celtic on that day. We talk about Theo Bair and his pace and his power and how he can get in behind people.

“There was a foot race between the two of them at one point and they kind of stayed that same distance away.

“And we’ve seen in recent weeks that big Theo eat up the ground and catch quick centre-backs and go beyond them.

“And there was a race with himself and Carter-Vickers and I just felt that, for me, he just brings a real steadiness to the back line.

“But he probably allows them to attack with much more confidence as well. I think it makes a huge difference.

“I think he’s been a huge loss this season.”

Carter-Vickers is immense for Celtic. When we don’t have him in the team the struggles are obvious for all to see.

The £6m signing from Spurs has been an everpresent since he joined us in 2021 and it’s remarkable to think that Celtic have lost just three league games in three seasons with him in the side. [Transfermarkt]

We could all see how the Celtic centre-backs struggled to contain Livingston’s counter attack on Sunday. The pace of their strikers caught us out on several occasions and on two of them, Livingston found the back of the net.

One thing is for sure, Celtic will need Carter-Vickers back in the side and soon. With the Glasgow Derby coming up, our chances of beating Rangers at Ibrox for the second time this season will be greatly enhanced with him in the side.

In other news, ‘I’ve heard’… Barry Ferguson shares what he’s been told about academy prospects at Celtic