And breathe…

A collective sigh of relief must have been exhaled around half of Glasgow on Wednesday, following a positive update from Celtic’s manager Brendan Rodgers on Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The USA international – not called up for this month’s internationals – wasn’t risked as a precaution, following a slight ‘niggle’ he felt following Celtic’s defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle two weeks ago. This measure had many worried about the condition of the best defender at the club, who has endured a stop-start third season in Scotland, his first under the returning Rodgers.

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However, the latest news will have been met with open arms, especially given the importance of the defender to Celtic’s hopes of a successful end to the campaign. Rodgers said to the media yesterday: "We will have a look at Cam, he should be fine, it was a precaution.

"I spoke to Cam at length this morning, he just feels everything is based around his knee operation. Also, when you have picked up a few injuries from that, maybe what was a normal twinge, you get that sensation and think it's linked to another injury. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to be that.

“We've had the scan which has come through fine, he's done some work with the medical team and hopefully, he will rejoin the training squad on Thursday and Friday.”

Did you hear that noise? That was the sound of thousands of people breathing out a sigh of relief regarding the imposing defender, as it looks as if he will be available for selection on Saturday afternoon for Celtic’s must-win match against St Johnstone. Perfect timing, too, given the way Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh operated in the last game against Livingston during Scottish Cup duty. Like two fish out of the water, the pair – not fancied under previous manager Ange Postecoglou – were found wanting on multiple occasions, with Daniel MacKay and Tete Yengi both finding joy in the form of two well-taken goals.

Of course, there is a feeling of trepidation concerning Carter-Vickers’ swift return, though this is natural. If the term ‘false dawns’ had a human embodiment this season for Celtic, then it would come in the shape of the club’s number 20, as the defender has been ravaged by injuries ever since his operation, which was carried out nearly a year ago. After returning to the squad at the start of the season following an injury-free summer, he was forced off in the second game of the league campaign, thus commencing the stop-start nature of this year for the centre-back. Transfermarkt calculates that Carter-Vickers has been absent for 51 per cent of the season, a massive blow given the defender’s importance to the team.

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Admittedly, there are indeed collective worries about Carter-Vickers’ condition, regardless of the manager’s perceived go-ahead this week. With one game to go until the international break – the last one of a long season – both the player and manager have a decision to make concerning his involvement against St Johnstone this Saturday. There are certain risks - and his injury record backs up the validity of these worries - though Celtic will be taking a gamble with whatever defence they name to face Craig Levein’s improved Saints side.

Last Sunday’s defensive showing against bottom side Livingston should be the final nail in the coffin for the defensive partnership of Welsh and Scales. It says a lot when you believe that a better side than David Martindale’s team could have taken four or five off the pair at Celtic Park, a damning indictment on the current state of play at the back. From being lost at sea for the first goal from a simple ball over the top for the first strike, to being posted up and turned so easily for the second goal, it was a disastrous defensive performance from the centre-back pair against a poor side struggling at the foot of the Premiership table.

Talking of better teams, St Johnstone are a stronger outfit than the side Celtic last faced at home just under a week ago. The last time the pair met, they played out a drab 0-0 draw, though it would have been a different story had Matt O’Riley brought his shooting boots that day. Because of this slight step-up in opposition, Saturday must indicate a straightforward return to the starting line-up for Carter-Vickers if he is fit and available.

To put it simply, playing Welsh and Scales together again is a far bigger risk to success this season than taking the chance on Carter-Vickers, who looks to have been passed fit for this clash. With him in the team, every other player around him ups their game and plays better due to his inclusion. Scales has probably been the biggest casualty recently, as his level seems to have dropped since Welsh was named alongside him in the starting line-up.

In an ideal world, Gustaf Lagerbielke or Maik Nawrocki would be able to carry the load for Carter-Vickers, allowing the player to recuperate ahead of a return to action following the international break. In the case of the former, Rodgers has made his bed concerning the Sweden international - with the former Elfsborg defender having to make do with a bench spot if he’s lucky - whilst Nawrocki – much like the American – has been consistently injured this campaign. That’s £8 million worth of defenders not contributing, with the current defensive pairing amounting to under £2 million in collective transfer fees. Not a good look for all concerned, especially the much-maligned recruitment team, headed by Mark Lawwell.

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Overall, if Carter-Vickers is fit, then he has to play against St Johnstone and play as close to 90 minutes as possible. The risks are too great for this season’s end result for him not to play a part unless he is physically unable to do so. With Scales and Welsh in the back-line, every team has a chance, whereas those odds are shortened exponentially with the American stationed in his natural position.

A big call, but a necessary one for Rodgers to make, if he has any appetite for adding two pieces of silverware to the trophy cabinet at the end of this campaign.