Cameron Carter-Vickers believes Celtic’s strengthened attack can help ensure there is no repeat of last season’s Champions League play-off disappointment.
The Hoops were eliminated at the same stage by Kairat Almaty last August, failing to score across two legs before losing on penalties in Kazakhstan.
There is a different mood around Martin O’Neill’s side ahead of Wednesday night’s first leg against LASK, with Celtic scoring 10 goals across their opening three victories of the season.
Kasper Hogh already has a hat-trick to his name after the 5-1 win at Kilmarnock, while Camilo Duran opened his competitive account in Saturday’s 4-0 Premier Sports Cup victory over Dundee United.
Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur also made their debuts from the bench at Tannadice, and Carter-Vickers believes Celtic’s summer arrivals have injected fresh energy into the squad.
He said via Celtic’s official YouTube channel: “New signings do kind of give the group a bit of energy and a bit of momentum.
“Two of the players that have come so far have really hit the ground running, so that’s definitely a positive.”
He added: “I think we’ve signed good quality players. They’ve already shown what they can do and what they are capable of, so that’s helpful.”
Carter-Vickers knows Celtic will need that additional attacking quality against LASK after their lack of cutting edge proved costly at the same stage last season.
He said: “These kinds of qualifying ties are always difficult games.
“You are generally playing champions from other countries, teams that know how to win. Last year, over two legs, we struggled to score and maybe create chances.
“That was probably our downfall.”
Celtic now have another opportunity to book their place among Europe’s elite, and Carter-Vickers is determined to ensure Champions League football returns to Celtic Park.
He added: “It’s a competition that we want to be in year in, year out.”
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1 Comment
There’s a far better balance and mentality throughout our team, that was in place last season imo?
Disappointed that AJ is injured, and the OX suspended, but that’s football?
Still have 15 players plus B listed Donovan available, who you would expect to play some parts within these Lask matches?
16 players available, is all that’s required to play these games?
And I wouldn’t expect Doohan, Murray, McCowan, Forrest or Osmand to be involved much, if used at all during the course of this tie imo?
So this nonsense of our team not being ready, is nothing more than a slur upon our players we do have available imo?
We might be running the risk of injuries to key players at present?
But that’s football, and we still have enough flexibility within our squad to cope, even if we don’t want to have to deal with the likes all the same?
So don’t believe that the quality factor is going to be an issue during this tie, despite having numerous new partnerships in operation throughout our team imo?
Still believe that we are good enough with the football to create chances, and hopefully clinical in finishing them?
Not so confident without the football all the same as a team?
So potentially the biggest influence is going to be upon Calmac as captain in that regards, over the course of this tie imo?
There may be a few question marks surrounding individuals within our team, but these are the games that can define you as a player within our club?
There’s nothing within our 16 players, who i expect to be involved during the course of this tie, to suggest that they aren’t worthy of wearing our jersey at present imo?
And that currently goes beyond the 16 also, and will increase before this window actually shuts also imo?
Whether that’s good enough, without the stability factor only getting formed, is yet to be determined, but we will definitely be in a far stronger position next year all the same regardless of the outcome of this qualification game imo?