Panathinaikos defender Erik Palmer-Brown has revealed he sought insight from Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers ahead of his side’s Champions League qualifier second leg against Rangers.
Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
The Greek outfit are preparing to overturn a two-goal deficit after falling to Russel Martin’s side in the first leg of their second-round tie. With their hopes still flickering, Palmer-Brown, a USA international, admitted he reached out to his long-time friend Carter-Vickers to get a read on the Ibrox side.
And one subject of the conversation was James Taverneir. You’d imagine Daizen Maeda and the translator were on standby in the other room!
“I spoke to, he’s now retired, a player that played at Hibs, Jimmy Jeggo,” he told BBC
“And from Cam, all I really got was like, they brought in some new signings. He was like, eight or nine new players, so I’m not really sure.
“But he was telling me about their right back and all their players that he did know, and he was like, they’re a good team, and they’re willing to push forward to go get the win.
“Cam’s been my friend for a long time, so it kind of cut off quick about the football conversation and went to life because I just had a kid and everything.
“But it was a good conversation. And with his career, man, him playing in Scotland, I know Trusty’s there now, and what they did last season.
“So congratulations to him but he’s the man. I always saw that coming for him to play at a high level.
“I know he loves Scotland and he talks so much about it so it was a really good conversation.”
It’s clear that CCV is enjoying life in Glasgow, we didn’t need a teammate to tell us that. He’s been a key player for Celtic over the past few years, but injury concerns have impacted him recently. He had a ‘tidy up’ operation after the season ended, and it was nothing to worry about. His recovery time did take a little longer than anticipated, but hopefully that can put the injuries behind him.
While Celtic await their Champions League play-off draw, their Glasgow rivals face a tough trip to Athens and Carter-Vickers’ perspective on Rangers is now part of the Panathinaikos dressing room talk.
