Celtic have faced injury problems of late under manager Brendan Rodgers and will be tasked with replacing one of their most influential figures ahead of the key games.
Brendan Rodgers confirms Cameron Carter-Vickers to withdraw from Celtic contention
The Boies’ 2-1 win over Sturm Graz on Thursday night was a morale booster and added momentum to their Europa League action. However, this positive result appears to have come at a price with the injury absences of Alistair Johnstone and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Ahead of Celtic’s trip to take on Heart of Midlothian in a tense Scottish Premiership game on Sunday, Rodgers confirmed Cameron Carter-Vickers will be sidelined for three to five months after suffering noticeable discomfort after the final whistle due to an Achilles problem.
He told Sky Sports: “Obviously not mentioned is Cameron Carter-Vickers. He looks like he’s torn his Achilles tendon and that could be three to five months. We’ll just wait for that confirmation, but it’s not great news. We’ll see where it goes.”
He added: “Cam is a very important member of the team, obviously he’s been a great centre-half for the club, but I always think it opens the door for someone else and that opportunity came with Liam Scales. He’s been great while I’ve been here and you saw his performance last night, he’s been very good. It’s going to open the door for someone else to come in and perform.”
Brendan Rodgers to replace Carter-Vickers as immediate replacement for Celtic
There is no doubt there will be panic after losing a defender of Carter-Vickers’ caliber, especially considering his incredible contribution to Celtic’s success over the last few years. This news further exacerbated injury concerns in the absence of Daizen Maeda.
But with options in the back dwindling, there may already be evidence of who Rodgers can turn to. Dane Murray, who made his breakthrough in the first team under the Irishman, could be the man drafted to answer the call, as opposed to the likes of Auston Trusty, Jahmy Simpson-Pucey or Hayato Inamura.
The 6ft 4in Scotland Under-21 international has scored one goal in four appearances against Falkirk this season, and Rodgers has previously lavished praise on his ball-playing ability, claiming he is on par with top players from what he has witnessed.
“That’s great for him because he’s a great kid. He’s got a lot of potential. And I think he’ll really develop over the next 12 to 18 months. His ceiling is very high.”
“He definitely has areas of his game that he needs to work on, but he’s 6-foot-4, he’s fast, he can get the ball away. He’s comfortable with the ball, comparable to the top players. But concentration is an important thing for a defender. But I really, really like him and that’s why we tied him up. And I think he’s got a great future.”
Admittedly, Murray may find it difficult to make the leap from logging occasional playing time to becoming a first-team regular. However, his natural right-handed nature and considerable height make him a strong candidate for the position, especially considering Trusty recently recovered from plantar fasciitis and Simpson-Pewsey has yet to play a single minute in the Green and White.
With a midweek trip to Tynecastle followed by Falkirk ahead of next Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup Glasgow derby semi-final, suspicions are growing that the Lennox Town graduate will finally make his big break.