Celtic boss O'Neill reveals crushing injury blow as World Cup hopeful is ruled for remainder of the season

Martin O'Neill has revealed that Cameron Carter-Vickers’ season is over, with the American defender’s World Cup dream also in jeopardy.

The 27-year-old defender required surgery on his Achilles after pulling up late during Celtic’s win over Sturm Graz on October 23.

It initially looked like he would be sidelined for a couple of months, however, interim boss O’Neill painted a bleaker picture when asked for an update ahead of Celtic’s trip to St Mirren this evening.

‘The whole year,’ O’Neill said. ‘Funnily enough, I did ask him yesterday, did he think he would be ready for the World Cup? And he said he thought that would be very doubtful.’

Asked to confirm that the player was out for the season, O’Neill added: ‘Yeah. We will not see him. I think it might be April before he’s even on grass.’

There was further grim news for Celtic fans on some of the club’s other long-term injury victims.

‘And obviously, Jota, he’s out now. I’ll not see him,’ said O’Neill. ‘I’ll certainly not see any of those boys that you mentioned.’

Revealing that both Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand will be sidelined well into the New Year after undergoing operations on their hamstrings, he added: ‘With Alistair Johnston, it’ll be four or five months.

‘Callum Osmand, although they had the same operation on the same day, his was worse, believe it or not. He’ll be five months.’

‘James Forrest is still missing. Kelechi Iheanacho has done some work, but wouldn’t be ready for this (St Mirren game).’

Left-back Marcelo Saracchi remains on the injury list, but O’Neill sounded fairly confident about getting him back soon, possibly even in time for Thursday’s trip to Feyenoord in the Europa League.

‘Saracchi will also be out but he’s getting close again,’ he said. ‘I’m hoping that some of these lads, if they don’t make the Feyenoord game, would at least be available for selection for the Hibs game (next Sunday). Which might not bother me — or it might.’

O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will take charge of Celtic for a fifth game in Paisley despite consistent reports the club are pushing towards the appointment of Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy.

‘I’m probably a bit surprised that I am (still here), I thought maybe something might have got sorted out in the international break,’ added O’Neill.

‘But I think that there is definitely progress being made in that field.’