Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Cameron-Carter Vickers has been getting the cotton wool treatment at times this season at Celtic.

But Hoops fans can be forgiven for being the ones feeling more comfortable when they see the defender’s name on the teamsheet. Carter-Vickers has been managing a long-standing foot problem that has forced him to sit out some matches. But the USA international is back in business – and determined to maintain his incredible record at the heart of the Hoops defence


Carter-Vickers is not a man to pay too much attention to stats. If he did he would see some of the most stunning numbers Scottish football has seen. The centre-back has played 110 domestic games in three-and-a-half years with Celts – and lost just FOUR of them. Carter-Vickers was involved in the last loss on home soil against Hearts back in March and when the Jambos won at Parkhead last December.


But the previous term his side did not suffer a single domestic defeat when he was in the team – with the Livingston shock in his first season the only reverse outside the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers. It’s little wonder that the bookies’ odds on Celtic losing shoot up another notch when he’s in the starting XI – and it has been more of the same this term


The stats are still ridiculous. Seven league appearances, seven wins – and seven clean-sheets. In fact, Carter-Vickers has only seen the ball fished out of the Celtic net once in Scotland this campaign, in the 3-1 Premier Sports Cup win over Hibs. Even in the Champions League the centre-back is two wins out of two with Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig only managing consolation goals in stunning victories for Celts.

Carter-Vickers doesn’t think too much about it though – and was left scratching his head when asked to recall those domestic defeats. The modest star said: “I remember the first season I lost to Livingston away. I think that was my first loss away from home. We lost Hearts away 2-0, after we went down to 10 men. That was a bit unlucky.


But, yeah, there’s not been many. To be honest that’s what I pride myself on – the consistency. I try to get it from myself and everyone else. That’s something I definitely care about and try to do.”


Carter-Vickers has been a huge part in the winning habit at Parkhead but is refusing to take the credit. As far as he’s concerned, it’s more of a coincidence that Celts don’t lose when he’s around as he is quick to share the plaudits with the team.

The astonishing record comes with added pressure though. Even if he has been forced to sit out a few, there’s massive expectations on his shoulders when he comes back. But Carter-Vickers said: “I’m comfortable with it because I know it’s not completely true.

“It’s not the case that if I’m in the team we win. I can obviously help but it’s on everyone else as well. It’s nice for people to say but the reality is it’s probably a combined effort from everyone.” That has been the case this term as Celtic have benefited from a cast of solid defenders


Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales formed a formidable partnership last term but fellow USA international Auston Trusty has slotted into the mix and become another key man in the side. It’s difficult to tell who is first choice between Scales and Trusty right now – and there have been times when the two lefties have played together and performed well – like in the superb rearguard display against Atalanta in Italy.

It’s a squad game but when Carter-Vickers is fit he’s seen as the one certainty on the team-sheet. And not just because of his defensive ability. The 26-year-old is never going to be an old-fashioned centre-back whose bark is every bit as bad as his bite. It’s not his style.


Carter-Vickers is a quiet man by nature but that doesn’t mean he’s not a leader. He has become one of Rodgers’ on-field generals and while he might not be ranting and raving, he’s more than ready to play a leading role when it comes to inspiring his side. Carter-Vickers said: “I don’t really think about that too much. When I’m out there I try to help the team as much as I can.


If I can affect others and maybe help them raise their game then that’s even better. For me, when I’m out there it’s about trying to help the team win as many games as possible

That begins again with Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday – the scene of one of his few defeats. The big man wasn’t risked on Rugby Park’s plastic pitch before the international break after a tough run of fixtures on his return to the side.


But manager Rodgers expects to have his lucky charm around for the trip to Gorgie. The manager said: “Cameron had three games in a short period of time after being out for a little period.

“So he has done Dundee, Aberdeen and RB Leipzig in close proximity. He felt a little fatigue in his hamstring with the work that we’ve put into him. But it’s nothing serious. We didn’t want to risk anything and he will be ready for Hearts when we come back.