Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has stated that Cameron Carter-Vickers will resume first-team training, but he will not be ready to play until after the international break at the earliest.
The US international has been out since mid-August after being pulled out with a hamstring injury during the Hoops’ 3-1 Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, which was considered as a devastating early-season blow for the defending champions.
Rodgers thinks that the former Tottenham centre-back is making progress in his recovery but is still a long way from returning to competitive action.
He also provided an update on the condition of Nathaniel Phillips, who was injured on his debut for Liverpool against Dundee and would not be rushed back.”Well, we’ve got Cam who’s coming back in to re-join the training group, but he’s not going to be ready until after the international break, I would suspect,” Rodgers stated in his pre-match media conference before of a trip to face Motherwell this weekend.
“We’re keeping an eye on Nat Phillips; he’s rejoined the group, but we need to double-check his ankle.”
Meanwhile, Rodgers claims that Celtic, like the rest of the first-team squad, have a succession plan in place for custodian Joe Hart, who is in the final year of his contract.
With the 36-year-old veteran goaltender’s future uncertain after receiving a lot of flak this season, the Hoops could be looking for a new No.1 in January or next summer.Hart was chastised for his role in Feyenoord’s first Champions League goal last week before being sent off for the first time in his career during Saturday’s 3-0 league win over Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena.”There’s a plan in place for not only Joe, but for the entire squad,” Rodgers said. You will always have
Listen, he’s at the age that he is. Joe, he takes such good care of himself; he’s in terrific physical shape. But, of course, in every position, whether you’re a goalkeeper, a centre back, or a centre forward, you always have an eye on the future.”
