Cameron Carter-Vickers will be absent for Celtic’s upcoming Champions League match against Atalanta, despite his recent return to training. The influential centre-back participated in training at Celtic Park on Tuesday morning, sparking hopes of his return. However, he was left out of the squad traveling to Bergamo, Italy, for the crucial Champions League tie.
Carter-Vickers has been sidelined since his last appearance in Celtic's 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava during the opening game of the Champions League group stage. The United States international didn't finish the match, as a long-standing toe injury forced him off the pitch, and his recovery has been closely monitored ever since. Celtic has struggled defensively in his absence, keeping only one clean sheet in their last five outings. Their defensive frailties were exposed most severely in a heavy 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in their second Champions League group stage match.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers provided an update on Carter-Vickers’ situation, saying, "He hasn’t traveled. Greg Taylor hasn’t traveled as well. Greg should join the group on Friday. Cam, we will see when we get back."
Rodgers’ comments reflect the careful approach being taken with the player’s recovery. While Carter-Vickers has made progress by returning to training, it appears the medical team and Rodgers are unwilling to rush him back into action, especially for such a high-stakes game against Atalanta. The decision not to include him in the traveling squad suggests the club is focusing on his long-term fitness, which will be vital as Celtic continues to navigate both domestic and European competitions.
Carter-Vickers’ absence could pose significant challenges for Celtic, especially in such a pivotal Champions League fixture. His presence has been a cornerstone of the team’s defensive structure, and without him, Celtic’s backline has looked vulnerable. The defensive woes have been compounded by the absence of left-back Greg Taylor, who has been sidelined since the Borussia Dortmund defeat due to a calf problem.
Rodgers’ statement about Taylor’s expected return later in the week offers some hope for the Celtic defense in upcoming matches, but for the immediate clash against Atalanta, the Scottish champions will have to cope without two of their key defenders.
As Celtic prepares for the match against Atalanta, the focus will be on how they can adapt without Carter-Vickers and Taylor, as both players have been crucial to their defensive setup. The burden will likely fall on other defenders to step up, and Rodgers will need to ensure that the team can stay compact and disciplined against a potent Atalanta attack.
Celtic’s defensive instability in recent games highlights the importance of Carter-Vickers’ return to full fitness. His leadership and composure in the backline have been sorely missed, and Celtic will be keen to reintegrate him as soon as possible. The decision to keep him in Glasgow rather than rush him back into action in Italy suggests that the club is taking a cautious approach to his rehabilitation, hoping to avoid any setbacks that could prolong his absence further.
In addition to discussing his team’s injury concerns, Brendan Rodgers also revealed an intriguing story involving one of Atalanta’s star players, Ademola Lookman. Lookman, who rose to prominence after his heroics in last season’s Europa League final, nearly joined Celtic during Rodgers’ first spell in charge of the club.
Rodgers disclosed that he had identified Lookman as a target during his time as Celtic manager, and they had even reached an agreement on personal terms for the winger’s transfer from Charlton. However, Celtic’s hopes of landing the talented player were dashed when Everton swooped in with a higher bid, reportedly around £11 million, in January 2017.
"Ademola was one that we tracked back in my first time at Celtic. I met him in a hotel in London, and we were looking to convince him to come. Sadly, we just couldn’t get to the levels that Charlton wanted for him, but the club had done everything they possibly could at that time," Rodgers explained.
Lookman had expressed a strong desire to join Celtic, understanding the stature of the club and the opportunities it presented for a young player like him. Rodgers described Lookman’s eagerness to experience the pressures of playing for a big club like Celtic, which made it an attractive proposition for both the player and his representatives. However, the financial aspect of the deal ultimately proved to be the stumbling block, with Charlton seeking the maximum possible fee for their prized asset. This allowed Everton to secure his signature, and the transfer "drifted away from us," Rodgers said.
The connection between Rodgers and Lookman didn’t end there. When Rodgers took over as Leicester City manager, he reunited with the winger during the 2021-22 season when Lookman was on loan from RB Leipzig. Lookman impressed Rodgers once again, delivering memorable performances, including a standout individual goal against Liverpool that secured a 1-0 victory for Leicester.
"We wanted to sign him at Leicester, but sadly we couldn’t sign any players that summer," Rodgers lamented, reflecting on another missed opportunity to secure Lookman’s services on a permanent basis. Rodgers praised Lookman’s professionalism and his willingness to take on new challenges, noting how the player had adapted to different environments during his career, including stints in Germany and the north-west of England.
Following Leicester’s inability to secure a permanent deal for Lookman, Rodgers tipped off his former colleague, Lee Congerton, who was then working at Atalanta. Congerton followed through on the recommendation, and Lookman moved to the Serie A club, where he has since established himself as a key player. Lookman’s star has continued to rise, culminating in his match-winning hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final, an achievement that further solidified his reputation as a top player.
Reflecting on Lookman’s career trajectory, Rodgers expressed pride in the player’s development, describing him as a "top professional" and commending his work ethic. Rodgers praised Lookman’s commitment to improving his game, highlighting his dedication to honing both his right and left foot through constant practice. The result of that hard work was evident in Lookman’s performance in the Europa League final, where his hat-trick was the culmination of years of dedication and perseverance.
"He leads his life in the right way; everything is geared towards being the best he could. Watching him in that Europa League final, the goals he scored – not by accident. He practised that every day of his life where he could," Rodgers said, underscoring the winger’s determination to succeed.
As Lookman prepares to face Celtic in the Champions League, Rodgers will be watching with a mixture of pride and perhaps a tinge of regret, knowing how close he came to signing the talented winger during his time at Celtic. For now, though, the focus for Rodgers will be on how his team can navigate the challenges of facing Atalanta without key players like Carter-Vickers and Taylor, while trying to contain a player like Lookman, whose abilities he knows all too well.
Despite the disappointment of not securing Lookman in 2017, Rodgers has no doubt that the Nigerian international has fulfilled his potential, establishing himself as a top player in Europe.
