Last season, Cameron Carter-Vickers, in consultation with then Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, chose to undergo knee surgery immediately after the Scottish Cup semi-final. Rather than waiting until the end of the season, this decision will provide a significant advantage to new Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
Cameron Carter-Vickers had been struggling with a knee injury for some time. Despite the discomfort, he delivered an outstanding performance in the semi-final against The Rangers, helping Celtic secure a place in the final and ultimately win the treble. However, the knee issue was a lingering concern, and a decision had to be made: should Cameron play through the pain and delay the surgery until the end of the season, or should he address the problem immediately?
At the time, Ange Postecoglou and Cameron made a joint decision. They chose the latter option, prioritising the player’s long-term health and performance. Cameron underwent surgery shortly after the semi-final.
At first glance, this decision might have seemed like a setback. After all, losing a key player before the league was officially wrapped up and with a cup final wasn’t ideal. However, the choice to prioritise Cameron’s health has proven to be a wise one.
As the new season approaches, Cameron is not on crutches and is part of the squad preparing for their summer training camp in Portugal. This means that Brendan Rodgers, the new Celtic boss, will likely have a fully fit and ready Cameron Carter-Vickers at his disposal right from the start of the season.
Rodgers, therefore, stands to benefit greatly from the foresight shown by Postecoglou and Cameron. Having a key player available and in top form can significantly impact a team’s performance. In this case, a decision made in the past is set to provide a major boost to Celtic’s future prospects under their new boss.
