Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers boosted by return ahead of Premiership run-in

Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is glad to be back in action as the cinch Premiership title run-in starts to hot up.

The 26-year-old has been in and out of the squad with hamstring problems all season after missing the end of the previous campaign through knee surgery.

He came on as a second-half substitute against Motherwell at Fir Park at the weekend after missing a month out with his most recent problem.

Reinstated into the starting line-up against Dundee at Celtic Park on Wednesday night, Carter-Vickers began the rout of the Taysiders with the opening goal in a 7-1 thumping – his first counter since March last year – which kept Brendan Rodgers’ men two points behind league leaders Rangers.

The United States international said: “It’s been frustrating for myself being in and out with injuries.

“I’m hoping I can stay fit and help the team achieve things. I just did the rehab as well as I could.

“I got 30 minutes at the weekend plus 60 minutes against Dundee. So that helps.

“I’m hopefully building my way back into it. It’s the same hamstring, on the right side and same side as my knee.

“It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve had a season like this where I’ve been injured so much.

“But I think if you’re looking to have a long career then you’re going to have a season like that or two. So you’ve just got to get on with it.”

While Celtic ran riot against the demoralised Dens Park side, Rangers were fighting back from a goal down to beat Kilmarnock 2-1 at Rugby Park to keep their noses ahead with 10 fixtures remaining.

Carter-Vickers, who joined the Hoops from Tottenham in August, 2021 – initially on loan – said: “I don’t know if I’d say it’s our toughest (title challenge).

“I think our first year I was here was a tough title challenge. We were behind in early part of the year and I think when we went to their stadium before the split, we were only two points ahead. So that was a tough title challenge.

“Obviously, this one’s going to be difficult as well.

“But I think we’ve got the players for it and I think we’re up for the challenge.”