Following Brendan Rodgers’ praise of Maik Nawrocki, Cameron Carter-Vickers has also heaped praise on the Polish defender after his first start of the season in Sunday’s Glasgow Derby.
Thrown into the starting XI out of nowhere, Nawrocki had barely featured all season but was forced to step up due to injuries to Liam Scales and Auston Trusty. Despite the disruptions in Celtic’s backline, the 24-year-old put in a solid shift, earning the backing of both his manager and teammates.
Speaking about Nawrocki’s performance, Carter-Vickers said: [The National]
“I think Maik [Nawrocki] done well. I thought he had a good game, he was solid enough, won most of his duels.
“Like I said, second half, I don’t think they [Rangers] created much.
“I think they had the counterattack from our corner, I think Luke McCowan got the block on that, and obviously the goal at the end, apart from that, second half, I don’t think they had much.”
With Scales and Trusty still doubts for the coming weeks, Nawrocki could be set for a run in the team post-international break.
Trusty, who was expected to start against Rangers, was a shock absentee from the squad and has since withdrawn from international duty with the USA due to a calf issue. Scales, meanwhile, is still recovering from a cheekbone injury, with the possibility of requiring surgery.
That leaves Nawrocki in contention to keep his place when Celtic face Hearts at Parkhead after the break.
For a player who has had minimal game time this season, his performance in a high-pressure derby was commendable, and Carter-Vickers’ words only reinforce that he could play a key role in the title run-in.
