Carter Vickers Has Grown As A Player At Celtic, And Tonight Played In A World Cup.

When Cameron Carter Vickers moved to Celtic, initially on loan, there was not a lot of fanfare over the signing. In fact, a few Celtic fans I know (and some whose work you’ll have read) weren’t overly impressed by it and thought we’d signed a frequently on loan dud who would be here six months, prove himself inept and move on.

Still more, amongst non-Celtic fans, had written him off. He was just 23. Only the size of the right-to-buy clause that Spurs inserted into the deal suggested that they weren’t quite so sure. He might have been miles from their star-studded first team squad but they knew that they had a player on their hands and one who was worth someone’s money.

Cameron Carter Vickers needed two things that Spurs weren’t going to give him; the support and the time to grow as a footballer, and prove his worth. Players generally can’t do that if they are being shipped out on loan either. He needed to find a permanent home, and at a club which was as committed to him as he was to it.

Celtic paid the big money, and we’ve reaped the big reward. Carter Vickers is worth double what we paid for him, and plenty of previous suitors know it. Sooner or later our resolve will be tested by a bank busting bid. Until then, I love having him in the team.

Because he has grown as a player as we would all have expected him to do. He has won honours, and he has played in the Champions League and now, tonight, he played in a World Cup game. He has become a different footballer than they guy we signed less than a year ago, and whilst he still has some developing to do he’s come on leaps and bounds.

Congratulations to him on his first match in the biggest competition in football. He will, without a doubt, make more appearances on this giant stage, and hopefully many more of them as a Celtic player to boot.