Carter-Vickers is relishing the task of having to beat off all competition
CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS earned a teenage debut for Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup against Gillingham, one of 11 changes by Mauricio Pochettino from their weekend Premier League game. In the next round, the centre-back was in again — as a second-string Liverpool team ended the interest of Spurs reserves in the 2016/17 tournament.
Three months later, Carter-Vickers found himself promoted once more for two early-round FA Cup ties.
While grateful for the exposure, the American recognised his chances were granted because his employers weren’t treating those tournaments as seriously as other events in the calendar.
Through multiple Championship loan spells, Carter-Vickers discovered varying degrees of interest in progression in the EFL or FA Cups.
If mired in relegation or promotion matters with greater long-term financial significance, even some Championship clubs adopt an indifferent approach.
An attitude of treating two domestic knockout competitions as afterthoughts certainly wouldn’t wash at his latest loan port of call.
With Celtic, taking a shot at winning a trophy lightly and slipping up in the process is one sure route to trimming a Parkhead career span.
The 23-year-old is about to experience his first cup final and loves the fact every second counts in every game.
Carter-Vickers said: ‘Every match here for Celtic — whether it’s the league, Europe or in the cup — there is that expectation to win it. That is definitely something a fair bit different to what I have experienced before.
‘I think playing for Celtic, in general, brings a lot of pressure. That does help you as a player because you always have to be on it.
‘That pressure helps motivate you, keeps you always on your game.
‘This is 100 per cent what you look for when signing for Celtic. I love games that are so important, ones with 50,000 or so fans.
‘The semi-final at Hampden was one of the best atmospheres I’ve been involved in, so I’m definitely looking forward to more of the same in the final. When we play at home, we’ve 60,000 every other weekend expecting us to win. That pressure is always there and I know it will be amplified for the final.
‘This is my first final, so that comes with its own pressures. I think, as a group of players, we are getting used to it and we are dealing well with it.’ Carter-Vickers will have his mum and nan among the family fan club in attendance at the national stadium this afternoon. New relations within the Celtic camp are helping to make this, his seventh temporary pitstop while a Tottenham player, the most enjoyable and potentially successful yet.
The defender has predicted victory over Hibs would send spirits soaring in a group, on the evidence of the midweek Dingwall drama, that is responding at every turn to Ange Postecoglou’s style of management and play.
‘This is definitely an important game for a new group of players who’ve come together since the start of the season,’ said Carter-Vickers. ‘Going out together for our first final and getting that win would be important.
‘The squad already had a lot of belief, we are very together. And if we can manage to win, we will build on that.
‘We kept the belief in the football we wanted to play at Ross County in order to get the result, and the win was important in midweek.
‘The manager has his way and all of the players have bought into that. It’s enjoyable for us and, for it to pay off on Wednesday in the way it did, that was important.’
Liam Scales and Owen Moffat are just two newcomers staking a recent claim to play a part at Hampden.
‘All of the boys who have come in have done really well,’ noted Carter-Vickers. ‘Even though some haven’t been playing as much, they’re still at the training ground every day working hard. We know they’re good players and will contribute when needed.
‘I went to the Europa League game Liam started, I thought he played really well and the way he performed on Wednesday was good as well.
‘The belief we have in each other is such that we’re confident in everyone playing in the big games.’