It's a brilliant day for Celtic fans as injured defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has returned to training. He won't play for the rest of the season, but it is a step in the right direction to have him back with the squad.
The Hoops have felt the loss of the American this season. Although Liam Scales and Auston Trusty have done well to fill in for him, with the former even winning himself a new long-term contract, having CCV back will be a massive boost.
Supporters shouldn't expect him back this season though, with Martin O'Neill confirming recently that both him and Jota will be sidelined until next campaign.
Still, returning to training marks a massive step in the right direction. He is clearly recovering well, and should there be no more setbacks, he will be aiming for an early pre-season return.
Carter-Vickers return will be welcomed
With many players set to leave the club in the summer, and many to arrive as well, CCV offers some consistency at the back alongside Scales, who you would expect to retain his starting spot. For years, the American defender has been one of Celtic's top performers, and hopefully that won't change when he makes his return.
Comparing the stats of CCV, Trusty and Scales from the 24/25 season, CCV kept the most clean sheets out of all of them. He also made the most interceptions and had the second-highest percentage of ground duels won, with only Scales above him.
All stats are courtesy of footystats.org.
That shows that he is an incredible option. Some supporters haven't been happy with how Trusty has performed this season, so his doubters will be especially delighted when CCV returns. There is also interest in the defender, notably from Serie A, so he could move on.
Transfer targets at the back
Despite CCV returning and Scales and Trusty still being contracted, there is some work being done on the scouting front to potentially bring a new centre-back to the club.
In March, news broke that the Hoops were considering a move for Ozan Kabak, the former Liverpool defender currently playing his football at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. His contract is set to expire there, and rumour has it that Celtic are one of the clubs interested in his services.
Last month, reports in Croatia revealed that Kabak wasn't the only name being considered, with Scotland international Scott McKenna on the radar as well. He is set to win the league with Dinamo Zagreb, which could make him an attractive option for the Scottish giants.
So, CCV could have a new defensive partner when he returns, but if the long-term contract given to Scales is anything to go by, it may be more likely that we see a centre-back pairing of the Irishman and the American.
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