When it comes to persuading Cameron Carter Vickers to convert his current loan contract from Tottenham Hotspur into a permanent deal with Celtic, we’ll simply take all the help we can.
The impressive centre half is very much becoming a fans’ favourite at Celtic with a series of consistent and improving performances at the heart of the Celtic defence. As such the club are keen to conclude an early deal for CCV, if Tottenham can be persuaded to do so, and it appears the players form is not only pleasing those of a Celtic persuasion, they are also attracting the interest of USA coach Gregg Berhalter.
As such CCV himself must now see the advantages of playing regularly and at a high level can bring about a return to the international fold with USA for the on-form Celtic stopper and it may well help him make his own mind up when it comes to signing on at Celtic.
USA head coach Gregg Berhalter as reported in Daily Record has been keeping a close eye on Carter-Vickers progression at Celtic and his words must offer genuine encouragement that international recognition could again be on the horizon for CCV – “We are definitely monitoring Cameron. “We have a lot of competition at the centre back position. But we think he is performing well and he is definitely on our radar.”
It’s two and a half years since Carter Vickers picked up the last of his eight caps for the national team, that was in a loss to Jamaica and it happened when on loan at Swansea. Since then, however he hasn’t had a look in, and in part that may be due to the nomadic loan experience the player has been offered by Spurs.
The USA have three big qualifiers coming up against, El Salvador, Canada and Honduras and those begin on the 28th of January. With the coach clearly watching closely, good performances after the winter shutdown, starting with Hibs on Monday night, may well see Carter-Vickers looking at a long-awaited return to international football, for whom he qualifies for through his Father.
For Celtic this of course could be a double-edged sword. Cameron’s consistent form is very much to our benefit, yet an international call up would of course mean CCV could miss out on games for Celtic. However, looking at the bigger picture it would suit all parties to see Carter Vickers recalled. After all Celtic want the player, wish the best for him and want him signed permanently, and the best of talents are always likely to represent their country.
With an international feel to Celtic prevalent these days, and it sounds like there may be more overseas arrivals on the way, this is something Celtic are simply going to have to accept and negotiate through squad rotation going forward. And if international recognition materialises for Cameron Carter-Vickers it can only help persuade him that Celtic offers him everything he needs to progress with his career ambitions. That can only be a good thing for Celtic and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Niall J
