Chris Sutton praised both Callum McGregor and Craig Gordon in his weekly newspaper column this morning but despite the Celtic captain winning the PFA Scotland Player of the Year and the Hearts goalkeeper being named as the (Anyone But Celtic) Sports Writers Player of the Year, the BT Sport pundit – banned from Ibrox last night because they cannot guarantee his safety – reckons that the outstanding player in the Scottish Premiership this season is Celtic’s Cameron Carter Vickers.
And there was another update last night from American sports writer Larry Henry Jr who kept us updated on the CCV move to Celtic from Tottenham last summer with reliable information coming from sources very close to the player. And his latest report states:
“Celtic continues its talks to add Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, a source close to the player confirmed. Despite other reports from abroad, nothing has been agreed upon yet. Deal likely to get done after Celtic’s final league matches.”
This ties in with our own expectation that both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota will be announced as Celtic signings shortly after the final league match of the season against Motherwell next weekend.
Celtic continues its talks to add Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, a source close to the player confirmed. Despite other reports from abroad, nothing has been agreed upon yet. Deal likely to get done after Celtic's final league matches. #USMNT
— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) May 5, 2022
Sutton reviewed the various contenders for his own Player of the Year this season and it basically came down to a two horse race between the Celtic captain and the powerful central defender who arrived on deadline day in last summer on a season long loan from Tottenham and looks likely to be signing a permanent contract to remain at Celtic shortly after the season ends next weekend. Writing in today’s Daily Record, Sutton explains why he opts for CCV as his Player of the Year.
“Carter-Vickers has grown into his role week on week to such an extent that, if his name is missing from a team sheet, it would cause the fans as much panic as the removal of anyone else within the entire squad. That’s a sign of his importance,” said Sutton.
“Celtic’s defence, however, had set a very different set of standards during last season. The constant concession of dismal goals did for Neil Lennon,” Sutton noted. “Postecoglou could instil as many exciting players and signings with as much attacking intent as he wanted, but if the backline was going to keep giving things away, it would be work wasted.
‘Carter-Vickers stepped up to the mark. Gave Celtic a dominant presence. And a calming influence. I’m not going to sit here and say he didn’t get exposed at times in Europe, but so did the whole team and they will get better. Domestically, though, Carter-Vickers has shone. He has lifted the levels of the likes of Carl Starfelt and gelled together a new backline.
“Postecoglou has had outstanding contributors. The attacking side of the game has been electric at times and boys like Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Giorgis Giakoumakis have been brilliant in their first seasons at the club.
“Joe Hart has proven many wrong, including myself. I wasn’t sure he could hit the heights again, but he has done so in style and is in a different league to the likes of Vasilis Barkas, Scott Bain and Conor Hazard, who were the previous custodians.
“But Carter-Vickers has been a shield in front of him. He has always been available to his manager. He has rarely missed a match and that robust nature is vitally important for a centre-back. Teams have to know they have a rock they can depend on week on week to give the platform for them to have success. Carter-Vickers has been that guy. For that reason, he is my Player of the Year.”
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