GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers (L) and Bayern's Harry Kane at full time during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Celtic and FC Bayern Munich at Celtic Park, on February 12, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has played down expectations of Cameron Carter-Vickers making a quick return to action.
The former Spurs man is Celtic’s most commanding defender but has suffered a number of injuries over the last couple of seasons.
Many have been muscle related but at the end of Celtic’s Europa League tie against Sturm Graz he suffered an Achilles issue.
That match was to prove very costly,
Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho both suffered first half hamstring injuries.
In the following match Celtic lost 3-1 away to Hearts, two days later Brendan Rodgers announced his resignation.
Martin O’Neill returned but in two stints in charge he has only had 20 minutes of Celtic’s best defenders to pick from.
CARTER-VICKERS RETURN TIMELINE
Carter-Vickers was spotted back in training on Friday.
But with three weeks left in the season it seems a long shot that the US internationalist will be involved again for Celtic.
Asked about Johnston’s return to action, O’Neill moved along to give an update on his injured defensive team-mate.
The Celtic Way reports the Celtic boss saying:
He is a major player for the football club; he and a number of others are coming back. [Cameron] Carter-Vickers has joined in today, but I think that’s a bit of a distance off at this minute, considering the injury he’s had.
Knowing him, he’d want to be playing on Sunday, because he would throw himself out there!
Being in the USA World Cup squad looks like an achievable goal for Carter-Vickers.
Their opening match is on June 13 against Paraguay, six weeks is a realistic timespan to gain full fitness.
Being out for seven months would normally rule out a player from playing in a World Cup but with fatigue a major issue across football Carter-Vickers is in the opposite camp.
Many players will have come through a tiring, bruising domestic season. Not many will report for international duty fully fit.
The USA have friendlies arranged for May 31 and June 6. It wouldn’t be a shock if Carter-Vickers is involved in the squad preparing for those matches.
Ideally Celtic would have Carter-Vickers rested through the summer ready for the 26/27 season. With a home World Cup the player will naturally be thinking of international duty.
By F*ck – We have missed him for sure !