BRENDAN RODGERS should know today if Cameron Carter-Vickers has a chance of returning in matchday three of the Champions League against Atalanta in Bergamo on Wednesday.
The influential Celtic central defender has missed the last five games with a toe injury and his rock-solid presence has been sorely missed.
The team have shipped 12 goals in those encounters – including seven against Borussia Dortmund – after conceding just two in the previous seven outings.
Carter-Vickers’ absence was highlighted again when the champions allowed Aberdeen back into the contest at Parkhead on Saturday to gain a 2-2 draw after the hosts had led 2-0 at the interval.
CRUNCH…Cameron Carter-Vickers clashes with St Mirren striker Toyosi Olusanya in Celtic’s 3-0 league win in Paisley in August.
With the USA international unavailable, Rodgers has played Auston Trusty alongside Liam Scales in the middle of his rearguard and it’s clear the two left-footed performers are not an ideal partnership.
Asked about the possibility of a Carter-Vickers comeback against the Serie A outfit, the Hoops boss, speaking to the Daily Mail at the weekend, answered: “I don’t know, I’ll see tomorrow.
“At Atalanta, having played them before and obviously seen them play, it’s a totally different game.
“They’re probably the best man-to-man marking team in world football, how they work. So, the football will be different.
“But we’ve already had that if you’re not quite on it, you’re not compact, you’re not tight and you’re not aggressive, you can get punished at the very highest level.”
Celtic fans will be hoping the £6million purchase from Spurs in 2022 gets the green light to face the Italians.
The seven-goal drubbing in Dortmund still hurts.
