The loss of Carter-Vickers will clearly be a big blow to Rodgers and his plans for the match but unlike a year ago he has a defined template with eight or nine starters known for the match- with some quality options on the bench.
It provided Carter-Vickers with a little respite, seconds later he was flat out on the turf looking up to the sky after Adam Idah had pounced on Jack Butland parrying a shot to find the net and send half of Hampden into delirium.
Carter-Vickers extended his Celtic contract at the end of January, making it the second deal he had signed in less than 20 months which seems to be the modern way rather than waiting until the last 12-18 months before renegotiating.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been having his injuries managed through this season.
The defender was missing from the Celtic side that beat Livingston 4-2 today- the fifth time this season that he has been out through injury.
Away to Dundee on December 26 he had to come…
His brightness, his cleverness, his technique his physicality in terms of his running and into the right areas. He’s back training, and he’ll be available for next weekend.
After being injured away to Dundee on December 26 Carter-Vickers has been out since then but all the signs are that he will be back involved at home to Ross County when the SPFL resumes on Saturday.
Opened in 2016 Grace’s led the way as Irish/Celtic Bar’s expanded from the Gallowgate into the Merchant City with green and white colours now regularly on show in that area.
Rodgers will have to decide whether he puts Phillips in for just his third match since January or go to Carter-Vickers for his first match since lasting 45 minutes away to Aberdeen on August 13.
With a Glasgow Derby and Champions League campaign starting next month Rodgers will have to rethink his defensive plans ahead of a critical stage of the season.
Over the course of four pre-season matches Rodgers has seen for himself the strengths and weaknesses that he has inherited from Ange Poostecoglou.