Martin O'Neill has yet to dip into the summer transfer market with Celtic badly needing signings for the new campaign. But, without having to make a scouting trip, study statistics or watch a DVD, the Parkhead manager is going to have a new recruit worth millions in the transfer market at his disposal.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been at the club for five years after an initial 12-month loan from Tottenham turned into a permanent deal and, in the eyes of most observers, he is and has been by far the best defender at the club since arriving. But, despite being parachuted into the caretaker role on two separate occasions last term following the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy, O'Neill didn't get the opportunity to call upon the American ace even once.
Devastating Injury and Defensive Unravelling
Carter-Vickers' devastating and season-ending Achilles injury during the Europa League triumph over Sturm Graz last October didn't just begin the unravelling of the defensive numbers. It also came just four days before Rodgers' second exit from Celtic Park and less than a week before O'Neill and Shaun Maloney took charge for the first time against Falkirk. That meant, through both of the gaffer's spells, Carter-Vickers wasn't available to his team.
By the conclusion of the campaign, he was back in training, he was on the pitch with O'Neill and the staff for the celebrations when the title was won against Hearts and also on the park with his colleagues after the Scottish Cup Final victory over Dunfermline. However, at no point could he get the boots on for O'Neill.
McNamara: A Massive Bonus
Former Celtic defender Jackie McNamara reckons that, although signings are needed, the return of the former Spurs star from inside the building is going to be a massive bonus to the new boss as he looks to set up a team for the 2026/27 term. McNamara said: “He was a big miss. I think not just defensively, but also for set pieces. I think he was important for them.
“A lot of the season you were playing Auston Trusty on that right-hand side and he was not comfortable to start things off, to be comfortable in there. He's very left-sided and he did a job, but I think Carter-Vickers was a big loss.
“I think even with Alistair Johnston, you saw the difference when he came back into the team how the balance was so much better in that final push for the league. Having the players in their right positions and having that balance and Carter-Vickers is a good leader at the back, so you're hoping that he's going to be back to near enough what he was before he got injured.”
Defensive Struggles Without Carter-Vickers
Trusty and Liam Scales were O'Neill's go-to partnership prior to the arrival of Nancy and they also shouldered most of the burden after the Frenchman's sharp exit. O'Neill also had to use the likes of Dane Murray and loanee Benjamin Arthur in the central positions during his second stint and, with the goalkeeper also changing due to Kasper Schmeichel's injury and the introduction of Viljami Sinisalo, Celtic were less than watertight.
By the end of the season, 41 Premiership goals had been lost, which was the highest tally since Carter-Vickers' arrival. O'Neill's team kept clean sheets in just three of their last 18 domestic games and it was obvious the absence of their rearguard rock was a factor.
McNamara said: “I think distances, making sure they were together is something he's important for. There wasn't one up there 20 yards. You saw it in certain games with one ball. You saw it in the League Cup final against St Mirren. One ball down the side in that area and they're scrambling back. The Rangers game in January where it starts from Celtic's throw-in and they score. So he was a big loss for them.
“I think that's probably the pleasing part in that they've had a lot of setbacks. Probably everybody has over the course of the season, but Celtic had big players missing. There was Carter-Vickers and Jota didn't play for the whole season, which has been a loss. That's where you're hoping the others step up.”
Recruitment Still Needed
While McNamara sees the importance of Carter-Vickers' return from within, he's also aware that Celtic will need to source well from outside the building and ensure good recruitment. O'Neill needs reinforcements even before the likely departures of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and perhaps Arne Engels.
The manager returning is the first brick in the build and McNamara, who was a stalwart for O'Neill during his first spell at the club between 2000 and 2005, hopes that quality players follow. He said: “I'm delighted he's staying on. Martin's there to win, that's what he's good at. He got the best out of what he had at the end of the season and there's not many people who could have done that the way he did.
“Now to try and get into the Champions League group stages, he needs a bit of help with recruitment and getting the right players in. There's no doubt they need reinforcements into the club.”
