14 hours ago
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Celtic's bid to cut the gap on title-chasing Hearts has suffered a major blow after key defender Cameron Carter-Vickers was ruled out of action for between three and five months.
The USA international picked up an Achilles tendon injury during the 2-1 win over Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday.
News that he could be sidelined until March — or January at the earliest — emerged just 48 hours before Brendan Rodgers’ men travel to Tynecastle on Sunday to face a Gorgie side boasting a five-point lead at the top of the Premiership.
The loss of one of his best players already comes amid a turbulent time off the pitch for Rodgers and Celtic.
A section of the Parkhead support continue to protest against the club’s board, while the manager has also come in for criticism for comments he made about his players following last weekend’s league defeat to Dundee.
Now a weakened Celtic side will head for Edinburgh, with Hearts sensing they can extend the gap to eight points with victory.
Cameron Carter-Vickers pulled up at the full-time whistle after the victory over Sturm Graz
Manager Brendan Rodgers will take his depleted side to Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon
Auston Trusty may be set for a run in the side after spending much of the season on the bench
It’s been 40 years since a non-Old Firm club last won the top-flight title in Scotland and Derek McInnes’ men will be desperate to take advantage of the champions’ apparent vulnerability.
Rodgers admitted after Thursday night’s game that he would have taken Carter-Vickers off earlier if he hadn’t been forced into making two early substitutions due to Kelechi Iheanacho and Alistair Johnston sustaining hamstring injuries.
‘He looks like he’s done his Achilles which could mean he’s out for anything between three and five months,’ Rodgers told Sky Sports. 'So, we’re just awaiting confirmation of that.
‘It’s not great news. Cam’s been a very important member of the squad and been a great centre-half for the club, but I always think what it does is open the door and gives an opportunity to someone else.
‘That opportunity came to Liam Scales and he’s been brilliant during my time here and you saw his performance last night, he was so good.’
Rodgers will now have to decide who partners the Irishman. Auston Trusty has not featured for two months but is fit again after a foot injury, while 22-year-old Dane Murray has played four times this season.
On-loan Manchester City centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is also an option but the 19-year-old is yet to make his debut and has not even featured on the bench for two months, missing out on Celtic’s 23-man squad against Graz.
Rodgers is also unsure if tightness in Daizen Maeda’s hamstring will rule him out of the trip to face the league leaders.
Iheanacho and Johnston could also miss the weekend clash, with Johnston having made his comeback on Thursday after a long spell on the sidelines only to pull up after 23 minutes.
