Cameron Carter Vickers takes Celtic top spot and is more important than Jota and McGregor - Chris Sutton

Cameron Carter Vicker is Celtic’ s most important player.

I’m not saying he’s the most skilful or the most talented in terms of ability. That’s a label reserved for a Callum McGregor or a Jota. But, in terms of importance to the side and being missed when he isn’t there, Carter-Vickers has long been in the irreplaceable category.

That’s why shelling out £6 million in the summer to get him permanently was a key priority. If they were to lose him for the upcoming double-header against RB Leipzig, it would be a brutal blow for the team in terms of Celtic’s Champions League qualification ambitions. You only had to look at events in Paisley last weekend to see what happens when he’s not around. One goal lost in the Premiership in six games up to that point with the American international at the heart of the backline. Take him out for just 90 minutes, two are lost and so is the game. I don’t want to be hammering Stephen Welsh, but, quite frankly, Celtic don’t lose that second goal against St Mirren if Carter-Vickers is there.

He deals with that ball on his six-yard line. Postecoglou needs him back and he needs him back urgently. Any extended absence would be a nightmare for the manager.

The Celtic boss has been back in his homeland this week to promote the Sydney Sports Cup and I’m sure he’ll have spent a lot of time on the lengthy flights there and back thinking about planning about how he approaches the next batch of fixtures.

It’s going to be hectic before the World Cup and, of course, he is going to have to utilise his squad. Having options is good. Having two players for every position is an ideal situation. It means changes can be made without too much disruption. Or it should.

Perhaps it is the sheer volume of