​The 28-year-old centre-back, who has long been a staple of Celtic’s rearguard, has not taken part in a competitive match since the serious setback sidelined him. He returned to action in Celtic’s pre-season clash with Shelbourne after also missing the United States’ home World Cup campaign. Reflecting on Celtic’s dramatic finish to the season, Carter-Vickers explained that the emotions were raw and intense. “It was crazy,” he told the Daily Record. “If you know you’re going to win it like that, that’s probably the most exciting way to do it. I would have preferred a more comfortable finish, but looking back now, there’s so much that happened that you forget a lot of it as well. I think any player would definitely rather be playing than watching. You definitely feel a bit more nervous when you’re not out there.”
Carter-Vickers also lauded the influence of Martin O’Neill and captain Callum McGregor, emphasizing how vital their contributions were over the course of the campaign. “I just think [O’Neill] is a really good manager, someone who gets the best out of players and leads the team in that way. I believe his greatest strength lies in his man-management and extracting the best from each player. When I look back at last season, I also think Callum McGregor, the captain, played a crucial role. The way he leads us day in, day out, brings energy and pushes the team forward. But yes, those two, Cal and Martin, were truly important throughout that season.”
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