Celtic idol laments 'massive blow' after latest on Cameron Carter-Vickers' injury
Frank McAvennie has insisted Cameron Carter-Vickers' absence has been a "massive blow" for Celtic.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Hoops striker said centre-back pairing Mortiz Jenz and Stephen Welsh look as if they "don't know each other".
Carter-Vickers was absent for the Celts' 2-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday (1 October) and their 2-0 defeat to St Mirren (18 September).
As quoted by STV News (2 October), Ange Postecoglou said the 24-year-old is "not far away" from a return but he is conscious of putting him in too soon.
The Aussie boss insisted he will not put the centre-back in the team unless he is "absolutely right".
Fellow centre-back Carl Starfelt is also sidelined for "at least another couple of weeks".
McAvennie claimed the Green and Whites are suffering in Carter-Vickers' absence.
"It’s been there for a couple of weeks now, you can tell," he told Football Insider.
"No disrespect to Welsh but when Carter-Vickers is playing with Starfelt of Jenz, they’re better players. We can do without Welsh, we can do without Starfelt and Jenz, as long as Carter-Vickers is there. He’s been the rock for me.
"He doesn’t take any nonsense. He’s not bad bringing the ball out but that’s not his game. He just stops people and I like him. He makes the other players round about him better. Jenz and Welsh don’t look as if they know each other.
"It’s a massive blow the more he’s out but I wouldn’t want to rush him. If he’s not ready, I don’t think the manager would do that anyway. But we need him back fully fit and in the team rather than risking him being out longer if he’s not ready."