THE sublime trickery, searing pace and clinical finishing of new signings Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jota and Daizen Maeda this season have had Celtic supporters in thrall.
But for John Hartson, who was no slouch when he got in or around the opposition penalty box himself during his trophy-laden stint in the East End of Glasgow, the main man for his old club has been Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Hartson appreciates how important playing attractive attacking football is to followers of the Glasgow giants and has enjoyed watching Ange Postecoglou’s team move to within the brink of the Scottish title as much as any fan.
He fully expects Callum McGregor and his team mates – who are six points clear of Rangers with two games to go - to turn on the style when they play Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow evening and secure the top flight trophy with a flourish.
Yet, the former striker also knows that without the defensive solidity at the back which Carter-Vickers provides, the efforts of the front men would count for very little.
He believes Postecoglou must make landing the United States internationalist, who is on a season-long loan from Spurs, on a permanent contract his No 1 priority ahead of the eagerly-anticipated return to the Champions League group stages in the 2022/23 campaign.
The Greek-Australian last week stated that Celtic officials are in talks with representatives of both Carter-Vickers and Jota, the Benfica winger who will go back to his native Portugal after the final cinch Premiership match against Motherwell on Saturday, and are keen for them to return next term.
Hartson revealed that Spurs, who are well placed for centre backs with Cristian Romero, Eric Dier and Ben Davies on their books, will be prepared to part company with the 24-year-old if they receive an offer which matches their valuation of the eight-times capped defender.
“I know Spurs want to sell,” he said. “I know for a fact, because I speak to people at Spurs, and they want to sell Carter-Vickers.
“He’s been on loan four or five times, and they feel that he’s not going back to Spurs, so they want to do a deal with somebody for Carter-Vickers.
“You can talk about the forwards, Jota, Abada and Kyogo, whose numbers have been frightening. Joe Hart, who has been brilliant. But you’ve got to look at Carter-Vickers, he’s been the dominant one.
“Carl Starfelt has come onto a game, but he’s shown weaknesses and defensive frailties at times. It’s Carter-Vickers who has been that man-mountain alongside him and took a lot of pressure off him. To do that for your other centre-half as well? I think he’s been outstanding.”
Celtic fans are eager for Jota, who set up the opening two goals in the 4-1 win over third-placed Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday, to commit his long-term future to the Scottish champions elect.
However, Hartson is adamant that tempting Carter-Vickers, who was shortlisted for the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award, to return north this summer will be every bit as crucial to their chances of domestic and continental success next term.
“He would be as important a signing as what Jota would be, I really do think that,” he said. “We know that Celtic are a forward-thinking team, get on the front foot, high intensity, press, pressure.
“As soon as they lose it there’s a trigger, four and five players around the ball, they don’t go in ones and twos, they don’t leave players 40 yards behind.
“Reo Hatate goes and pushes the forwards, defence comes up to the halfway line, they are a forward thinking team who almost just want to outscore the opposition.
“That’s what they want to do, so to have really good defenders to go onto another level where you’re up against better opposition and better quality of player, they can hurt you at the highest level. So, I think Carter-Vickers they need in terms of a defender.”
Martin O’Neill deployed Bobo Balde, Johan Mjallby, Jos Valgaeren, Stanislav Varga and even Chris Sutton at centre half when he was Celtic manager and Hartson thinks Postecoglou needs to increase his options in the specialist position this summer.
“They need another one too,” he said. “They have Christopher Jullien, but he’s not featured. I’m not too surprised by that, because he went with Carter-Vickers and Starfelt, and I just feel he didn’t want to upset that pairing.
“He has changed the full-backs at times with Josip Juranovic, Greg Taylor and Adam Montgomery before he went on loan, but for me, Carter-Vickers is arguably as important a player to get on board as Jota is.”
Tom Boyd, Paul Lambert, Jackie McNamara and Neil Lennon all skippered Celtic when Hartson played in this country so the Welshman knows a good Parkhead captain when he sees one.
He thinks that Scotland midfielder Callum McGregor, who has donned the armband this season following the departure of Scott Brown last summer, has revelled in the role and should take great credit for the success that Postecoglou’s side has savoured.
“Callum McGregor’s been exquisite, the way he’s led the team,” he said. “They lose a captain who’s done Nine-In-A-Row. He comes in, different personality and everything, but boy has he led. He’s led from the front with his performances.
“These guys have helped in the group. You want to reward them all. There’s Kyogo and Abada too. Give them a new deal also, people will say! But those two, McGregor and Carter-Vickers, have been immense for me. Particularly Carter-Vickers. He’s been brilliant, really good.”
