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Carter-Vickers not haunted by Kairat calamity as Celtic eye progress

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The calamitous Champions League play-off defeat by Kairat Almaty a year ago isn't lingering at the back of Cameron Carter-Vickers' mind as Celtic enter the fray at the same stage this season.

The defender's European experience last season was a difficult one - he ruptured an Achilles tendon against Sturm Graz in October and didn't play for the rest of the campaign.

All water under the bridge as far as Carter-Vickers is concerned as he prepares for Wednesday night's first leg against LASK.

"The reality of it is as a football player, you've got to get over the losses the same way you do the wins," he said.

"When you come down from a big win, you've got to go again the next week so right now it's not really on my mind personally. But we're aware this game does come with massive consequences, so we are ready. "

Celtic kept two clean sheets against the Kazakhstan champions but their failure to score in either leg proved to be their undoing as they were dumped out on penalties.

Carter-Vickers reckons the addition of Denmark striker Kasper Hogh and Colombian forward Camilio Duran, both proven goalscorers at Champions League level, has given the side an extra edge.

"I think last year we struggled to score and maybe create chances and that's probably our downfall last time. So that's something we've reflected upon," he said.

"There's always a boost to the squad when you make new signings. Just the energy that kind of brings to the group always helps. And two of the players (Hogh and Duran) have really the ground running, so that's definitely a positive.

"It feels like we are a good place and we got a bit momentum from the last couple of results so it's a good feeling around the place."

Three wins from three in the Premiership and League Cup have given Celtic a confidence boost but LASK are in a good place too, with full points from their opening three Austrian Bundesliga fixtures and a cup win too.

"I think it'll be a difficult game, they're champions of Austria," added Carter-Vickers.

"They are obviously a good side, we've watched a little bit of them on Tuesday and it looked like a physical side, very well organized with good quality as well, so definitely be a tough, tough tie for us."

[BBC]
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