CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS faces knee surgery to overcome the problem that could jeopardise his run-in to Celtic’s treble-chasing campaign.
The rugged Hoops centre-back has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks and missed the 4-1 win over Kilmarnock on the plastic Rugby Park pitch on Sunday.
Ange Postecoglou has taken no risks with the 25-year-old USA World Cup defender and is hoping the £6million summer recruit from Spurs will be able to carry on until the end of the campaign.
HIGH AND MIGHTY…Cameron Carter-Vickers heads clear from Antonio Colak in Celtic’s 2-1 League Cup Final triumph at Hampden in February.
Carter-Vickers is due to face Michael Beale’s Ibrox outfit in the Scottish Cup semi-final a week on Sunday with the silverware showdown scheduled for Hampden on Satutday June 3.
The Parkhead side’s participation in the national trophy could delay the player going under the knife until the summer to alleviate the problem in time for the new domestic term which is due to kick off early in August, according to a report in the Daily Record.
The champions are two wins from their remaining six league games from clinching back-to-back titles and Postecoglou could use the Southend-born star sparingly with Carl Starfelt and Yuki Kobayashi teaming up in the middle of the rearguard.
The American national team revealed last month that Carter-Vickers had pulled out of their squad with a knee setback and the Parkhead medical team are monitoring the player before making a decision on his involvement over the rest of the current crusade.
