Celtic currently have the best defensive record in the Premiership so far this season, having conceded just 18 goals in 31 games.
One figure in Ange Postecoglou’s squad who has contributed a lot to their impressive defensive output in the current campaign is Cameron Carter-Vickers.
With 26 league appearances under his belt, the centre-back – who joined the Hoops on loan from Tottenham during last summer’s transfer window – has racked up 24 tackles, 30 interceptions and 110 clearances in green and white so far.
His overall performances have earned him a season rating of 7.52/10 from WhoScored, making him the fourth-highest rated player currently in Postecoglou’s squad.
However, the fact that he is only at the Parkhead club on loan and could be moved on elsewhere next season means that the Hoops will need to find a replacement for the 24-year-old if they don’t sign him on a permanent deal in the summer.
If this does end up being the case, one player to whom Postecoglou could turn in a bid to save the club millions at the same time is young defender Ewan Otoo.
As a product of Celtic’s youth system, the 19-year-old may not have made his debut for the first team yet, but he has had a taste of regular senior football after spending a period of time on loan with Clyde last year.
With 15 appearances under his belt during his time away from Parkhead, the teenager garnered a lot of praise from his manager Danny Lennon, who said that Otoo has “a terrific attitude for a very young boy, he’s years ahead in terms of maturation, and is a very strong, powerful boy.”
Taking this into account, if the Hoops need to more depth to their defensive ranks for next season, perhaps unleashing Otoo for his first taste of what it’s like to play for Celtic at senior level could be the way forward for Postecoglou and his team.
Given what Lennon had to say on the young talent in terms of his maturity on the pitch as well as his impressive physical attributes, it may not be that big a risk for the Hoops boss to play him at senior level over the coming months.
In other news: Celtic will rue call on £25k-p/w gem whose value has rocketed 400% since Parkhead exit