CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS never let his focus waver when he was linked with a host of Premier League teams following his impressive loan season at Celtic.
Former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City, Newcastle, Wolves and newly-promoted Bournemouth were reported to be interested in the next stage in the 24-year-old central defender’s career.
However, the US international never had any second thoughts about his destination – Carter-Vickers was eager to return to the east end of Glasgow and he got his wish when Spurs accepted a £6million offer last month.
The powerhouse centre-back – known to his team-mates as ‘The Fridge’ – is now looking forward to what should be an enthralling campaign at club and country level with Ange Postecoglou’s men aiming to continue their domination of Scotland with the Champions League also a massive challenge.
And Carter-Vickers will almost certainly be heading to Qatar at the tail-end of the year for the World Cup Finals where he could face England, the country of his birth, on November 25.
The popular, no-nonsense back-four performer said: “I was linked with a few Premier League clubs, but it was never anything concrete because I was always set from the end of last season that I wanted to sign for Celtic. That’s what I wanted to do.
“It didn’t happen immediately, but it was still done quite quickly and I was delighted. It was important for me to finally get away from Tottenham.
“I think I kind of knew Tottenham’s stance before the end of the season. I didn’t really have to go back in the summer and speak to them. So it was quite simple if the clubs could agree a fee.
“To get the deal done early in the window was good.”
Carter-Vickers, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “We’d a very good season last year, not just me, the team.
“I’ve bonded well with the team and the coaching staff. I enjoy being here. I got on well with the coaches and players and I think I improved as a player, as well.
“The Champions League is probably the toughest competition you can play in at club level. To be a part of that and to measure yourself up against the best players in the world will be good.
“We’ll be there to try to win every game. That’s how the manager will set us up, that’s his way of doing things.”
Carter-Vickers came through the ranks at Spurs, but failed to make a league appearance while spending most of his career on loan with the Hoops his SEVENTH club on his travels.
He said: “I sort of enjoyed it. I got used to it, working under different managers and styles. I learned a lot playing in different styles of teams.
“It will be good for me to settle somewhere and Celtic will be a great place for that.”
Looking forward to the global football extravaganza that will kick off in Qatar on November 21 with the Final on December 18, Southend-born Carter-Vickers, with an American dad and an English mother, added: “Every player wants to be part of a World Cup.
“That’s got to be my aim, to keep working hard and keep working to be part of the squad.
“Yeah it could be big. With international football I’ve just got to focus on doing well at Celtic and building upon what we did last year. Hopefully the stuff on top will then come.
”Oh yeah, England will be a good game. I’ve not really had too much banter from my mum’s side of the family about it yet. It would be a chance to play against Harry Kane.”
Meanwhile, Carter-Vickers will be concentrating completely on making sure the champions get off to a perfect start when the Premiership commences with a game against Aberdeen on Flag Day at Parkhead on Sunday July 31.
