As Celtic enter the hunt for a defender in the transfer market, Cameron Carter-Vickers is watching from afar.
Unseen since picking up an Achilles injury against Sturm Graz in October, Carter-Vickers faces a fight to make a home World Cup in the USA this summer.
His teammate and countryman, Auston Trusty, has deputised well in his absence – but where will Carter-Vickers stand once he returns to fitness?
We examined his situation, with the club being linked with multiple centre-backs.
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Cameron Carter-Vickers’ situation at Celtic
Carter-Vickers joined Celtic in Ange Postecoglou’s first transfer window in 2021, becoming one of many extremely successful additions in Dom McKay’s solitary window.
He was a contender for Player of the Year in his debut campaign, playing alongside Carl Starfelt.
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Shortly before the end of Postecoglou’s tenure, Carter-Vickers was forced to have surgery on his knee, returning in time for pre-season.
However, a hamstring injury forced him into a lengthy absence shortly later. For much of the time since, Carter-Vickers has been playing through pain.
The big man is a Rolls-Royce on his day, capable of strolling through Scottish Premiership games without breaking a sweat.
But when he returns from such a serious absence, the club simply can’t afford to pin their hopes on him.
After all, you could argue that he had already declined before his injury. Carter-Vickers scored an own goal in the Hoops’ 2-0 defeat to Dundee immediately before the Sturm clash.
Dundee’s Luke Graham is of interest to Celtic, with the 22-year-old standing out in the Premiership this season. Reports have also linked ex-Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak with a move to Glasgow.
The loan addition of Benjamin Arthur is unlikely to become permanent, but the rise of Dane Murray could be. Carter-Vickers will return to a level of competition he is not used to at Celtic.
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Cameron Carter-Vickers on Celtic objectives
Speaking to Sports Empire about his objectives last month, the Hoops defender said: “I’m quite simple in terms of goals; just to play.
“Getting back fit, and playing football and be back playing in a winning team. That is only really ever my aim.”
Shortly into his first interim spell, O’Neill admitted that we won’t see Carter-Vickers before the end of the season, despite his initial timeline being given as three to five months.
He is alongside Jota, Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand in a long list of long-term absentees.
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