The Tottenham Hotspur teenager has been an unused substitute at best in the league.
Back in September, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was candid in regards to his central defensive options, explaining exactly why teenager Cameron Carter-Vickers was getting into his match-day squad ahead of Austrian international Kevin Wimmer.
Speaking to ESPN after Tottenham’s pre-season programme, the Spurs boss said, “If you watch the games against Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan again, I think he (Carter-Vickers) deserves to play in the starting XI.
“He can give to the team better quality than another player. It’s for that that I picked him on the bench.”
Fast-forward a few months and Carter-Vickers has featured just three times for Tottenham’s senior side – twice in the EFL Cup and once in the FA Cup – while Wimmer – the player he looked to have usurped in the pecking order – has eight appearances to date including four in the league.
Just as he did last season, Wimmer recently stepped in to replace the injured Jan Vertonghen, but he had a 45-minute showing to forget against Manchester City, looking off the pace before being replaced at the break.
So where has Pochettino’s faith in Carter-Vickers gone?
From declaring him ready for a starting spot and suggesting he was better than his other defensive fringe players, the Tottenham boss continues to overlook the young American even when injuries and poor form offer him a chance.
It is easy to cite the teenager’s age as a reason not to throw him in at the deep end. But if that is the case why say one thing in the summer and do another just when you need him the most?
Carter-Vickers should start for Tottenham against Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend, yet it is in the bigger matches were fans will be keen to see if he really is as good as his manager appeared to believe.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
