Can Celtic star earn stripes? Historic treble within reach for USMNT ace Carter-Vickers…
The 2023-24 campaign proved to be another memorable one for Celtic, with further additions made to a trophy cabinet at Paradise that is already creaking under the weight of major silverware.
Brendan Rodgers masterminded another Scottish Premiership title triumph, before doubling up in a dramatic Cup final clash with Glasgow Derby rivals theRangers. There may not have been a repeat of the Treble-winning heroics from 2022-23, but two trophies are preferable to one and considerably better than none at all.
Wild celebrations have been sparked across Glasgow, and there may be more to come for certain individuals in the Hoops’ ranks. For Cameron Carter-Vickers, the summer is just getting started. Having been a rock at the heart of Celtic’s defence, with the 30-appearance mark passed again despite having to contend with the odd fitness setback, the commanding centre-half continues to see his stock soar.
Honours
💪 More of this to come from CCV!#CelticFC🤝@cameroncv2#CCV2029🍀 pic.twitter.com/zMdXCUR9Df
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 26, 2024
Across three seasons at Paradise, including his initial loan spell, Carter-Vickers has collected seven major honours. The intention is to ensure that medal collection continues to tick over on a regular basis.
For now, that means turning attention to international matters. Having already represented the United States at the 2022 World Cup, the 2024 Copa America is now taking centre stage.
The USMNT are expected to go well at an international tournament being staged in their own backyard, with odds of 12/1 available in the outright markets that figure prominently within the various offers and promotions available through Free Bets. Every area of continental competition is covered there, from winners of the ultimate prize to individual match results and first goalscorer fancies.
Carter-Vickers is eager to ensure that there is Celtic interest in an event being staged a long way outside of his adopted home in Scotland.
He has said of the targets being drawn up on the back of another productive season at club level: “We have the Copa America and two friendlies before that. The squad has been announced for the friendlies and I think they might make a few cuts before the tournament squad. Hopefully, I am in the squad.”
The winning habit is one that Carter-Vickers is reluctant to shake any time soon, with Celtic having shown once again what is required as a collective in order to get over a trophy-collecting line.
A similar mindset will need to be adopted inside the U.S. camp in order for them to compete with the likes of World Cup winners Argentina and ever-competitive Brazil for a prize that has only come for grabs to them on four previous occasions.
Carter-Vickers has said of what is required in order to turn potential into tangible success: “For us it’s about working hard consistently. If you do that over a long period of time you usually reap the rewards. And I feel like we have done that this season.”
He has more reason than most for wanting to see the United States prevail on home soil. Despite making his senior international debut back in 2017, Carter-Vickers remains in the teens when it comes to caps. Fitness problems and fierce competition for places have held him back at times.
The USMNT have dominated the CONCACAF Nations League scene of late, landing that title in three successive campaigns, but Carter-Vickers has not figured in any of those triumphant squads – for a variety of reasons.
Silverware
Welcome back, CCV 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3JULOL7kwt
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) October 9, 2023
Carter-Vickers has got a taste for success at Celtic and is now in a position to break his duck on the trophy front with the United States.
He may have seen another treble fall out of reach at club level, having helped to sweep the board 12 months ago, but he can add a third entry to his roll of honour in 2024 and make a piece of personal history in the process.
Gregg Berhalter is going to need leaders when sending his troops into battle across the USA, and he has one at his disposal that is forged from Scottish steel. Carter-Vickers is already a star, with opportunities ready to be embraced that will allow him to earn his stripes.
