Cameron Carter-Vickers was absent from the squad for yesterday’s Scottish Cup QF win over Livingston with manager Brendan Rodgers explaining he had picked up a knock at training. Rodgers started Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales at the back and the pair were nowhere near as assured as when the USA Internationalist is in the side.
Speaking to Record Sport after the win over Premiership side, Rodgers explained the absence, insisting that it was a precaution to keep CCV out the side.
“We were just going through something very light on Saturday and he felt something in the back of his leg.
“He was okay to continue training but we just didn’t want to take any risk whatsoever with him. As much as he wants to play every game and be there, we had this earlier in the season when he said he was okay but we ended up losing him for a number of matches.
“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious. We just have to wait and see. If players are fit and available then we can’t stop him going, that’s internationals. He’ll obviously be called up for the USA I’m sure but we will have to just wait and see what the scan result says.”
Celtic are a much better team with Carter-Vickers in the side, the team have suffered as a result of the USA Internationalist being unavailable at various points this season through a hamstring injury. Liam Scales impressed when being called upon but his frailties have been exposed in recent weeks, which is likely as a result of a number of different partners. Gustaf Lagerbielke is out of the first team picture with Maik Nawrocki injured too.
Hopefully, Carter-Vickers is back after the International Break as Celtic look to go up against Rangers at Ibrox at the beginning of April.