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Cameron Carter – Vickers is Celtic’s undisputed starting centre-back.
But boss Brendan Rodgers now has another defensive headache to solve, as the four-in-one wouldn’t possibly work. Six weeks ago, he was able to locate a striker to position on his defensive line. However, during the next if a series of domestic matches takes place after this break abroad, Rodgers would probably have plenty of options to choose from. Carter-Vickers is the certainty, but Liam Scales, Nat Phillips, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki are now fighting for a single jersey.
Scales, called up via the Republic of Ireland, owned the ball, but it was Nawrocki who was given the first chance to become the American’s long-term partner. Celtic paid £4. 3m to Legia Warsaw and, while no one is guaranteed a match at any club, it’s not the kind of expense you spend on a substitute. Nawrocki made a clever first impression. He was strong, confident and, above all, had the ability to get the ball from behind on his left side.
Along with Carter-Vickers, the symptoms were positive until the Yankee’s injury in Aberdeen caused a merry-go-round. Stephen Welsh entered Pittodrie’s equation and did such a task that he signed a new four-year contract in the following days.
However, Celtic did not even take part in their next League Cup match at Kilmarnock before the Welshman suffered a long-term injury. While Starfelt had already left for Celta Vigo, Lagerbielke bought Elfsborg for an additional £3 million to fill the void and threw himself straight into Rugby. Park next to Nawrocki. Problem solved? No way.
A meeting in which this partnership lasted before the Pole suffered his own blow. As a result, Scales and Lagerbielke were the last two left to start against St Johnstone and then Rangers. Celtic enthusiasts were worried about heading to Ibrox with two green Old Firm deyetants. , however, they answered the call to leave a blank sheet in a declared victory.
Phillips signed before Govan but is not worthy of playing. He was given his chance alongside Scales against Dundee before Lagerbielke returned to Rotterdam to receive a red card against Feyenoord.
The Swede and Irishman managed to keep their pair intact for important wins at Livingston and Motherwell, but even then the goalkeeper was replaced at Fir Park after Joe Hart was sent off at East Lothian. Lagerbielke’s ban meant Phillips returned to Lazio.
Carter-Vickers came off the bench after almost two months off to take Liverpool’s place on loan against the Italians and kept him for the final outing against Killie in the league as the fifth new crusade partnership presented in just 11 games.
Carter-Vickers, barring injury, will remain in the position for the foreseeable future. His skill and delight in winning trophies at Celtic mean he will be the foundation. But the race to play along has already begun. Former Hoops striker Simon Donnelly, speaking to the Celtic Podcast, said: “Carter-Vickers is back. Since he’s been at the club, he’s been a rock. With Starfelt last year, the defense was excellent.
“Now he had to revel in other centre-backs with Starfelt’s departure. Carter-Vickers is coming back, he’s a wonderful player and he also gives a kick of flavor to the guys around him. From reveling, when vital players return, who have been such vital members of the team and have been injured, it also gives you a kick of flavor.
“Scales has proven his authority in this position. He stole the shirt from a couple of guys who could have possibly come in and had their eye on him, so it’s up to the other players to move it. “
The Welshman will be part of the verbal exchange when he returns from his long-term injury, but possibly not until later this year. And with Phillips’ loan to Liverpool scheduled to be reassessed in January, it’s possible the numbers will hold. The same when the 23-year-old returns.
Successful groups have been built from defensive associations. Rodgers has shown that he knows how to combine and adapt according to the situation, and his players manage to cope with forced changes.
But the Hoops boss has spoken of continuity and solidity in terms of attacking play and will need it in his backline as well. Although Carter-Vickers and Starfelt had injury absences during the two years they were together under Ange Postecoglou, they were the option. -to the boys when they were fit.
The fact that Celtic have not lost a single Premiership game in two seasons when the American and Swede started as a duo says it all. When the club’s matches resume and the champions head to the capital in 11 days’ time to face Hearts at Tynecastle, Scales will most likely continue along Carter-Vickers.
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He has had impressive consistency over 8 successive outings, and his form earned him praise from his club boss and prompted his home club to include him in their squad against Greece and Gibraltar.
But Lagerbielke and Phillips are beloved and experienced rivals, while Nawrocki is expected to return in the next block of domestic matches. Rodgers probably wouldn’t complain. Of course, you would have more bodies at your disposal than taking a look at the features of Lennoxtown. But 4 in one would possibly not be enough and now it is the manager’s turn to do the calculations.