Martin O’Neill has provided a crucial fitness update on Celtic’s defensive core, confirming that Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston are both back in full training. The Bhoys prepare for a critical league fixture against bottom-placed Hibernian on Sunday, a match where Celtic are heavy favorites to secure a win. Despite a recent Old Firm defeat to Rangers, Celtic have remained dominant in the Scottish Premiership, and both defenders are expected to be close to full availability for the away clash at Easter Road.
Key Match Highlights & Tactical Analysis
The positive news comes amidst a scare during Celtic’s Thursday night Europa League loss to Celta Vigo, where forward Callum Omand was substituted. O’Neill clarified that Omand suffered from cramp rather than a fresh injury, a common occurrence as the forward rebuilds his match sharpness after weeks on the sidelines with a muscular issue. This clarification allows the manager to focus entirely on the defensive line-up, with Johnston recovering from a significant hamstring injury sustained in August and Carter-Vickers dealing with a muscular strain that kept him out since the international break.
While the return of both center-backs is a major boost for Celtic’s depth, O’Neill has explicitly warned against taking risks with either player. Johnston’s recovery has been complicated by his heavy summer workload during World Cup action, while Carter-Vickers is still building up match fitness. With Hibs having won only two games all season and sitting rock bottom in the table, Celtic will look to dominate possession, but O’Neill’s cautious approach signals that neither defender will be rushed back into the starting XI if their fitness is not at 100 percent.
Source: LiveScore
