Celtic head to Bergamo for a crucial Champions League clash against Atalanta on Wednesday night, hoping to bounce back from their brutal 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 2. After such a punishing defeat, Brendan Rodgers’ side will need their best players available as they seek redemption in Italy.
One player who could provide a major boost is Cameron Carter-Vickers. The American centre-back hasn’t featured for Celtic since Matchday 1, but there’s hope he could make his return for this important fixture. A picture from Celtic Park emerged this morning showing CCV back in training, all smiles as he prepared with the rest of the squad before their flight to Italy.
Rodgers hinted at the weekend that Carter-Vickers was close to being involved against Aberdeen, suggesting he might have made the squad for that game, but ultimately the defender wasn’t risked. Now, with another few days of training under his belt, the prospect of seeing CCV back in the heart of Celtic’s defence feels more likely.
Of course, throwing him straight into a high-pressure Champions League away day isn’t without its risks, especially after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Atalanta are a dangerous side with attacking prowess, and the intensity of the occasion could be a real test of his match fitness. But given Celtic’s defensive struggles in Europe, Rodgers may well be tempted to roll the dice if Carter-Vickers is deemed ready to go.
With the stakes high and the Bhoys desperate to turn things around in Europe, Carter-Vickers’ return could be just the injection of stability and leadership the team needs. All eyes will be on the team sheet come Wednesday night.
Well how wrong can your assumptions be , just like Saturday versus the Dons it was assumed he would be coming back . Complete guesswork from many .