ANGE POSTECOGLOU has revealed Cameron Carter-Vickers WILL make his return to first-team action against Motherwell at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon.
The sturdy central defender missed last weekend’s 4-1 win over Kilmarnock on the plastic pitch at Rugby Park, but goes straight back in for the champions in the final outing before the five-game split.
Asked about his player’s situation at today’s media conference, Postecoglou replied: “Cameron has trained all week and will play tomorrow.
“The only reason he didn’t play last week was because of the surface, so he’s ready to go.
“He’s playing tomorrow, so that’s where it begins and ends. If he gets through tomorrow then he will play next week, so that’s how it is.”
Postecoglou was satisfied to leave it like that, despite reports the USA international pivot could require surgery on his knee at some stage.
With that position clarified, Postecoglou was then quizzed about the possibility of breaking records for points gained. The Hoops gaffer said: “We’ve been really good at just focusing on the next challenge because all of that becomes irrelevant if we don’t win tomorrow.
“You can look beyond tomorrow and say if we do this or that, but unless we win then it all dissipates.
“Our motivation is to play our best football tomorrow, get another win – especially in front of our supporters – score some goals and get closer to our overall target which is to win the title again.
“Since the World Cup, our form and football have been really strong and it’s been better than the first half of the year where I thought we were still really excellent.
“The key for us is to finish the season strong irrespective of what we’ve done so far.
“We’ve got six games in the league plus a Cup semi-final and if we can finish with our best form now then it will put us in a good place.”
The champions have claimed 102 league goals which is edging closer to the record which is held by Willie Maley’s great team of 1915/16 which completed their campaign with 116 strikes.
Postecoglou, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “If there’s one record I can be most proud of it will be to score more goals than have ever been scored before by the football club.
“A big part for me is that as much as we get defined by success – and success means winning trophies and games of football – the most pleasing thing for me is the number of goals we’ve scored.
“I still think that’s the best part of football because it goes beyond winning.
“Sometimes you can win and not really enjoy a game of football, but no-one never enjoys a goal, even the ugliest of goals still gets celebrated.
“I know how much joy that’s brought everyone from players to everyone involved and the supporters.
“The backdrop to that is that we’ve got to win games of football and win trophies, that’s always going to be the measure, especially at this football club.”
Kyogo Furuhashi will go into the encounter with the Fir Park outfit looking for his 30th goal of a prolific campaign which will also bring his total to the half-century since he joined the club from Vissel Kobe in July 2021 for a bargain £4.6million.
A win for the Hoops will propel them 15 points ahead at the league summit with their nearest challengers not in action until Sunday when they play Aberdeen at Pittodrie with a 4.30pm kick-off.
