You may have noticed Cameron Carter-Vickers and Daizen Maeda returned to full Celtic team training in videos and pictures on Tuesday, but it was always the plan to rest them for tonight’s match at home to Feyenoord.
Carter-Vickers limped out of last week’s win over Hibernian at Celtic Park at half-time, while Maeda has missed the last seven matches after picking up an injury away to Atletico Madrid.
A scan on Carter-Vickers over the weekend provided him with the all-clear to return to Lennoxtown training but Brendan Rodgers was in no mood to risk the defender for tonight’s essentially meaningless fixture.
The manager confirmed in a media conference this week: “They won’t be involved against Feyenoord but for the weekend they will hopefully be available.”
Carter-Vickers and Maeda will be welcome Celtic returns
Both players make it into Rodgers’ strongest eleven when fit, so the manager’s options are boosted with their returns.
Carter-Vickers, in particular, is absolutely crucial to the Bhoys. He is so consistent in the Scottish Premiership and has an incredible record in the competition, only losing once since arriving at the club.
Rodgers benched Nat Phillips for Wednesday night’s game against Feyenoord after a poor display at Kilmarnock and has turned to Stephen Welsh for the homegrown defender’s first Celtic start in over a year.
Maeda, meanwhile, will look to reinvigorate the Bhoys attack. Mikey Johnston, previously pretty far down the pecking order, is currently getting games on the wing.
The Japanese star provides significant energy and never gives opposition defensive lines a rest. Not only does it help him get into good positions, but his efforts open up space for teammates, too.
In other news, Brendan Rodgers responds to Celtic fan backlash after defeat.
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