Concerns raised over Celtic star's fitness as top defender ‘returns to Lennoxtown but has yet to train with first team'
SORE ONE Concerns raised over Celtic star's fitness as top defender 'returns to Lennoxtown but has yet to train with first team'
CELTIC have reportedly returned to pre-season training this week without key defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
It's being claimed there are concerns over his fitness, with the American apparently yet to train with the first team despite returning to Lennoxtown.
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The centre-back has had his fair share of injury problems during his time in Hoops.
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Cameron Carter-Vickers has had injury troubles during his spell at Celtic
Credit: PA
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Auston Trusty and Liam Scales have paired together previously in Vickers' absence
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
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Left sided centre-back Hayato Inamura is also on the brink of sealing a move to Celtic
Credit: Getty
According to the Daily Record, there is even a suggestion that Carter-Vickers has underwent an operation in the off-season thought that has yet to be confirmed.
He has been an important man since joining Celtic, initially on loan, but then permanently from Spurs, and Brendan Rodgers will be keen to keep the defender fit.
The Hoops still have fellow countryman Auston Trusty available, as well as Liam Scales, both of whom featured regularly last campaign.
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Stephen Welsh has returned from his loan move alongside Gustaf Lagerbielke, and Dane Murray and Maik Nawrocki are still on the books too.
However, Lagerbielke and Nawrocki look to be heading to the exit door, and the Hoops have also lost regular starter Greg Taylor, meaning Celtic will likely have to bolster at the back.
Kieran Tierney has returned from Arsenal, and Hayato Inamura looks set to join the Parkhead side imminently.
But Carter-Vickers' fitness will be of concern to boss Brendan Rodgers, as pre season matches and Champions League qualifiers loom large for the Hoops.
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No sooner than Friday are Celtic in action, as they travel across the city to take on Queen's Park.
The Celts then visit Ireland on Tuesday as they meet Cork City in the Cork Super Cup.
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An away tie with Sporting Lisbon and a return to Celtic Park against Newcastle United is on the Hoops' agenda the following week.
They also travel to Italy at the end of the month to take part in the Como Cup alongside Ajax, Como, and Al Ahli.
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The Hoops have already added Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand this summer.
The questions around Vickers' fitness could lead to yet more defensive reinforcements this summer.
Celtic are also looking to add width to their squad, with question marks surrounding the future of star Nicolas Kuhn, who is attracting interest across the continent.
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