Ange Postecoglou was today asked about the story that appeared in the media this week that claimed that Cameron Carter-Vickers would play against theRangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final next weekend then go under the knife to sort out a knee injury problem in order to get the American International defender fully fit for the start of next season.
The opening question at today’s media conference was about the reports earlier this week about Cameron Carter-Vickers suggesting he might need surgery before the season out on his knee injury. Ange as asked if he could bring us up to speed with the situation and if we likely to see him playing again this season?
The Celtic manager appeared to give an emphatic answer, but did he? “Cameron’s trained all week and he will play tomorrow. The only reason he didn’t play last week was because of the surface. I mentioned that before the game.
“He’s trained all week and he’s ready to go and from a fitness perspective, nothing else changes. All the other lads are closer and training but they won’t make it this weekend,” Ange Postecoglou stated, avoiding any mention of the reported surgery.
The journalist used his second question to follow up on this point, asking the Celtic manager if Carter-Vickers is likely to have to undergo surgery and that was too much for Ange and we were given a ‘mate’ reply, for the first time in a little while.
“Mate, he’s playing tomorrow. He’s playing tomorrow. So that’s where it begins and ends. I can’t predict the future. If he gets through tomorrow, he’ll play next week. So that’s how it is.”
Where does that leave us on this? We know that CCV will play tomorrow and all going well fitness-wise, he’ll be playing next weekend at Hampden against theRangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final. That thought doesn’t contradict the report and if it was incorrect it would have been very easy for Ange to say that it was all news to him.
With Yuki Kobayashi impressing in his appearances including against Hearts at Tynecastle in the Scottish Cup quarter-final and against Kilmarnock last weekend where Cameron Carter-Vickers sat that one out due to the surface, there is no real concern at CCV getting any problem sorted ahead of the new season.
Here’s Ange Postecoglou’s media conference…
