FRESH off a World Cup run to the knockout round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic are ready to carry their dominance into 2023.
Through 19 matches, Celtic are 18-0-1 this year and are leading the Premiership comfortably with a nine-point advantage over their Ibrox rivals.
Unsurprisingly, Celtic are the overwhelming favourites to win the Scottish Cup and their city neighbours second with Hearts rounding off the top three.
Helping lead that charge for Celtic will be Cameron Carter-Vickers, an integral part to their defence and one of – if not the – best central defenders in the top flight.
Celtic have conceded just 15 goals in the championship, but have lost only 11 in the 17 games that Carter-Vickers has played. He’s also helped post eight clean sheets, nearly 50% of all games.
Cameron-Vickers continues to establish himself as a permanent member of Celtic F.C.
In his one year with the club as a loan for the 2021/2022 season, Cameron-Vickers played in 46 matches across all competitions, recording 22 clean sheets as the club conceded just 37 goals across those 46 matches . His performance established him as one of the Premiership’s elite defenders thanks in part to 17 clean sheets in 33 matches in Premiership competition, when on the pitch, Celtic allowed just .58 goals per 90 minutes per FootyStats.org.
So far in the 2022/2023 season, that number has slightly increased to .65 goals conceded per 90 minutes. Despite the increase in goals per 90 minutes, the United States international remains one of the Premiership’s best defenders. Also according to the stats, Cameron-Vickers is in the 86th percentile or above this season when it comes to goals conceded (11), Minutes Per Goal Conceded (139 min’), Clean Sheets (8), Aerial Duels Won (94), and Clearances (50).
All in all, Cameron-Vickers is one of the best all-around defenders in the entire Premiership for Celtic and will be expected to continue to be as they progress throughout the season.
One of the things missing, however, from his game thus far this season is his contributions offensively. While he’s never been a center-back whose shown the ability to score consistently, in 2021-22, the then 23-year old scored four goals across his 33 matches played, a career high for him, as he previously only scored one for Sheffield United in 2017-18 and one for AFC Bournemouth in 2020-21. However, the lack of goal scoring out of the young center-back shouldn’t be all too surprising, in his 195 career matches played, he has totaled just six goals.
Don’t expect him to find a fountain of goalscoring either, as he’s been limited in his shot selection, totaling just seven shots taken this season in 17 Premiership matches. While he hasn’t found himself on the scoresheet either when it comes to assists, he has been pivotal in Celtic’s chance creation. FootyStats.org has Cameron-Vicker’s pass completion rate currently at 91.6%, (1150-for-1255) which falls in the 98th percentile for the Premiership. While he may not be picking up assists, he has been crucial in the ball movement for Celtic who have a comfortable lead in the goals for category with 61 this season in 19 games, well ahead of the once again second-place Rangers with 44.
Even if he doesn’t show up in the stat sheet offensively, Cameron-Vickers is an important part to Celtics’ success not just defensively but also offensively especially in the center of the pitch. That’s why taking a chance on Celtic and the rest of the Scottish Premiership on betting sites UK could be a smart decision.
Important derby match on January 2
The next time Cameron-Vickers and Celtic take the pitch will be away from the home as they travel on Monday, January 2 2023 to face Michael Beale’s team at Ibrox. While Celtic holds a comfortable lead in the table, it will be an important matchup for both sides as they look to carry over their success from the 2022 portion of the campaign.
📖 #CelticFCB v Rangers B matchday guide
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the #SLFL clash ⤵️#CELRAN | #COYBIG🍀
— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) December 29, 2022
Celtic as one could imagine is in terrific form over their last five with five consecutive wins, Rangers, on the other hand are 4-0-1 in their last five. On the year, Rangers is 14-3-2 with 45 points, nearly 20 points ahead of third-place Hearts, who hve 28 points.
Currently, Celtic are large favourites to win the match. The last time the two clubs met was in early September, a 4-0 win for Celtic. Last season, the two sides met four times in the Premiership with Celtic winning twice, drawing once and losing once. An extra-time own goal gave their Glasgow opponents a 2-1 win in the Scottish Cup semi-final in April.
