Celtic have encountered their latest injury problem under Brendan Rodgers and will now be tasked with replacing one of their most influential figures ahead of a key stretch of matches.
Brendan Rodgers confirms Cameron Carter-Vickers out of Celtic contention
On Thursday night, the Bhoys’ 2-1 victory over Sturm Graz came as a morale-boosting result that sparked their Europa League campaign into life. However, it appears the positive outcome came at a cost after Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho were hauled off injured.
Speaking ahead of Celtic’s trip to face Heart of Midlothian on Sunday in a crunch Scottish Premiership encounter, Rodgers confirmed that Cameron Carter-Vickers will be sidelined for between three to five months after his noticable discomfort after the final whistle due to an achilles problem.
He told Sky Sports: “One that is obviously not mentioned is Cameron Carter-Vickers. He looks like he’s done his Achilles, which could be anywhere between three and five months. We just await confirmation of that, but it’s not great news. We’ll see where that one goes.”
Later, he added: “Cam’s been a very important member of the squad, of course, he’s been a great centre-half for the club, but what I always think it does is it opens the door for someone else. That opportunity came to Liam Scales and he’s been brilliant during my time here and you seen his performance last night, he was so good, and it’ll open the door for someone else to come in and look to perform.”
Brendan Rodgers' ready-made Celtic replacement for Carter-Vickers
Undoubtedly, there will be panic after losing a defender of Carter-Vickers’ calibre, especially given his excellent contribution to Celtic’s success over the last few years. This news further compounds their injury worries amid Daizen Maeda’s absence.
However, there may already be evidence on who Rodgers could turn to in the face of his rearguard options dwindling. Earning his first-team breakthrough under the Irishman, Dane Murray could be the man drafted in to answer the call as opposed to the likes of Auston Trusty, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey or Hayato Inamura.
Standing at 6 foot 4, the Scotland Under-21 international has scored once in four appearances this campaign, coming against Falkirk, and Rodgers has previously lavished praise on his ball-playing abilities, claiming they stack up against the top players from what he has witnessed.
He said: “It’s great for him because he’s a great boy. He’s got a lot of potential. And I think over the next 12 to 18 months, he’s going to really grow. His ceiling is so high.
“There are areas of the game he needs to clearly work on. But he’s 6ft 4in, he’s quick, he can take the ball. He has a comfort with the ball which aligns with top players. Just, concentration is something that’s key for defenders. But I really, really like him and that’s the reason we’ve tied him down – and I think he’s got a great future.”
Admittedly, Murray may find the jump from claiming occasional minutes to becoming a first-team regular difficult. However, his natural right-sided nature and considerable stature make him a serious candidate for the position, especially given Trusty has recently recovered from plantar fasciitis and Simpson-Pusey is yet to play a single minute in green and white.
With a trip to Tynecastle followed by Falkirk in midweek before next Sunday’s Glasgow Derby semi-final in the Premier Sports Cup, there is growing suspicions that the Lennoxtown graduate may finally land his big break.