The Cameron Carter-Vickers news this morning that might have his season ended early so that he can get an knee operation as soon as possible in order to be fully fit for next season seems perfectly sensible but it will of course cost the American defender the chance to play in the Scottish Cup final – if he can play his part in getting Celtic through to face either Inverness Caley Thistle or Falkirk in the Hampden showpiece season finale that could see Celtic complete an incredible Treble in Ange Postecoglou’s second season in charge.
The plan appears to be that Carter-Vickers will continue to play until after the Scottish Cup semi-final a week on Sunday against theRangers. The player sat out the trip to Rugby Park at the weekend, with Ange deciding not to risk him on that surface and you would imagine that for the Scottish Premiership match against Motherwell at Celtic Park on Saturday, the Celtic manager will go again with his central defensive pairing of Carl Starfelt and Yuki Kobayashi.
That could also be the Celtic pairing for a Scottish Cup Final appearance IF Celti get there and one man who will have extra-special motivation with be Cameron Carter-Vickers who will know that this will be last match for around four months.
There’s no doubting the immense contribution that CCV makes to the Celtic team with every appearance but it’s a squad game and the manager has high quality cover in Yuki Kobayashi with Stephen Welsh likely to be on the bench.
This does give Kobayashi a chance for an extended run in the team judging from what we’ve seen so far there should be few worries on his account.
Kobayashi looks like a good signing, and Starfeldt is much more comfortable, especially in terms of his distribution and coming out with the ball, on the right; what we will miss, though s CCV’s leadership and organic g ability at the ack.
…..organising ability…..!